NIO has announced the launch of its 100 kWh battery together with battery upgrade plans. With over 300 patents filed and gained, the 100 kWh battery features the CTP (cell to pack) technology, realising 37% higher energy density. Powered by the 100 kWh battery, the NEDC range of NIO models can now reach up to 615 km (382 miles).
The performance of the 100 kWh battery is underpinned by four technological improvements: better thermal runaway management thanks to the thermal propagation prevention design; the highly integrated design that streamlines the manufacturing by 40% and improves space utilisation by 19.8%; the all-climate thermal management that improves the performance and extends the lifetime of the battery; and the end-cloud bi-directional communication BMS that supports smart parameter adjustments based on work conditions to improve the battery’s performance under all conditions.
NIO models with the 100 kWh battery will be available for pre-order from November 7, 2020. Users of the 70 kWh battery can choose to either purchase the new battery for a perpetual upgrade, or flexibly upgrade to it for RMB 880 per month ($133 USD or €112) or RMB 7,980 ($1,208 USD or €1,017) per year. The flexible monthly and yearly battery upgrade is a bold innovation by NIO to cater to users’ diverse travel needs in different scenarios.
Prior to the 100 kWh battery, NIO had already launched the solution and price of BaaS for the 70 kWh battery subscription. Users who choose a NIO model with BaaS do not need to buy the battery, instead, they can subscribe to batteries of different capacity and pay a monthly fee in accordance with their actual needs. Users who buy a NIO car with the 70 kWh battery with BaaS can immediately enjoy RMB 70,000 ($10,594 USD or €8,919) off the price with only RMB 980 per month ($148 USD or €125) for battery subscription. For the purchase of a NIO car with the 100 kWh battery with BaaS, RMB 128,000 ($19,372 USD or €16,310) will be reduced from the car price with subscription for RMB 1,480 ($224 USD or €188) per month.
As of today, NIO has already deployed 158 battery swap stations nationwide. Together, they have served users with over 1.18 million swaps to date. In combination with NIO’s Power Swap, Power Charger and other power services, the 100 kWh battery will make users’ travel more convenient. NIO’s unique service system with vehicle-battery separation and battery subscription enabled by chargeable, swappable and upgradable batteries is a breathrough innovation in both technology and business model, which has converted increasingly more premium fuel vehicle users to opt for NIO. The battery upgrade plan benefits all NIO users, and further strengthens the competitiveness of NIO’s service experience.
