Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio has officially announced a new milestone for its innovative battery-swapping service, achieving a record-breaking 158,290 operations in a single day on February 18, 2026. This achievement, coinciding with the Chinese New Year travel rush, underscores the growing acceptance and reliance on battery swapping as a primary refueling method for EVs in China. The company stated this figure is a powerful validation of the battery swap model’s viability at a massive scale, cementing its position as a mainstream energy solution.
A Network Built on Scale and Strategy
This daily record comes shortly after Nio celebrated its 100 millionth cumulative battery swap on February 6, 2026. This rapid accumulation of swaps is powered by a vast and expanding infrastructure. To date, Nio has built over 8,600 charging and battery swap stations across China. This network includes more than 3,700 Power Swap Stations, with over 1,000 strategically placed along major highways to alleviate range anxiety during long-distance travel. The infrastructure connects 16 major urban agglomerations and covers 550 cities nationwide, demonstrating a comprehensive national footprint.
From Proprietary Tech to an Open Platform
What began as a unique feature for Nio vehicle owners is now evolving into an open energy platform. A critical part of Nio’s strategy involves partnering with other major automakers to create a standardized battery-swapping ecosystem. The company has already forged strategic alliances with key players like Geely, Changan, GAC Group, FAW Group, and Chery Automobile. This collaborative approach aims to unify technical standards and expand the network’s user base beyond Nio’s own vehicles, which is crucial for achieving long-term profitability, as stations require a certain number of daily swaps to break even. Additionally, Nio is working closely with battery giant CATL to co-develop long-life batteries and further promote swapping technology standards.
The Future of EV Refueling
Nio’s continued investment, which has exceeded $2.6 billion (18 billion yuan), signals its unwavering confidence in the battery-as-a-service (BaaS) model. The company plans to accelerate its expansion by adding another 1,000 swap stations in 2026 and beginning the large-scale deployment of its fifth-generation stations. While ultra-fast charging technology presents a significant alternative, Nio’s three-minute swap process offers a compelling solution to lengthy charging times. By opening its network to partners and continuously innovating, Nio is not just building charging infrastructure; it is positioning battery swapping as a fundamental pillar of the future electric mobility ecosystem, potentially setting a new standard for how EVs are powered.
