Li Bin Highlights Battery Swap Advantages on CCTV as NIO Accelerates Plan for 10,000 Stations

In the CCTV program "Dialogue: Innovation China Tour," NIO founder William Li addressed the ongoing debate between battery swapping and ultra-fast charging, emphasizing that the two approaches are complementary rather than mutually exclusive. He noted that battery swapping is not only an efficient method of energy replenishment but also a profitable new form of infrastructure and business model. Through intelligent battery management, NIO can extend battery lifespan to 12 years and enable users to flexibly upgrade battery capacity. NIO plans to add at least 1,000 new battery swap stations annually, aiming to operate 10,000 stations by 2030, with each station generating an average gross profit of approximately RMB 1,000 per day. The company’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) model separates the vehicle from the battery, lowering upfront vehicle purchase costs. Other industry players, including GAC Aion and CATL, have already begun collaborating on battery-swapping initiatives. BYD executive Li Yunfei also stated that battery swapping and ultra-fast charging ultimately “converge toward the same goal,” jointly accelerating the transition to electrification, with companies increasingly adopting integrated, multi-pronged strategies in practice.