CATL and Nio will create a unified standard for fast battery replacement
Chinese battery manufacturing giant CATL has teamed up with Nio to standardise battery replacement technology in electric vehicles. The idea is not new - Nio already co-operates with Chery and Geely, and BAIC taxis with replaceable batteries have been operating in Chinese cities for a long time. But now one of the largest battery manufacturers in the world is getting involved.
Here's What We Know
The highlight of this deal is Nio's integration with CATL's Choco-swap technology. This is a system that allows for quick battery swaps in cars from subcompacts to mid-range models. The batteries in use are 42-70 kWh, with both lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC).
The first to access Choco-swap will be electric vehicles from Firefly, a sub-brand of Nio. According to the plan, CATL and Nio replacement stations will run in parallel, which should make operating electric vehicles easier and more convenient.
Why it matters. Each car manufacturer uses different battery form factors, making standardisation almost impossible. Some models have batteries integrated into the body structure that are physically impossible to replace without disassembling half of the car.
Perspectives and nuances
CATL and Nio plan to develop a unified replacement infrastructure that covers not only service stations, but also all logistics, recycling and battery upgrades. The principle is simple: 'charge, change, upgrade'. In the future, this could create a market for cheap electric cars with replaceable batteries.
However, there are pitfalls: standardised batteries may limit manufacturers in the design of cars. But on the other hand, the convenience of quick replacement, the possibility of upgrading to newer batteries and simplified maintenance.