When China’s “Tesla-killer” NIO launched its first electric SUV in 2017, it had a plan to quell to the fear of owning an electric vehicle with mobile service and “Power Swap” charging stations.
Last week, the EV maker puts NIO Power Swap Station 2.0 into service in China’s capital Beijing with Chinese oil and gas company, Sinopec.
The NIO Power Swap Station 2.0 unveiled at Sinopec’s Chaoying Station in Beijing is the first second-generation battery swap station and also the first under the newly inked NIO-Sinopec partnership.
Here’s the official words on the NIO Power Swap Station 2.0:
“As a smart battery swap system enabled by software defined cloud computing, NIO Power Swap Station 2.0 is the world’s first mass-produced battery swap station that allows the vehicle to maneuver into the station automatically. Each NIO Power Swap Station 2.0 has 239 sensors and four collaborating cloud computing systems that maximize the application of visual recognition technologies.”
With the new battery swap station, users will be able to complete a self-service battery swap with just a click while remaining in the car.
NIO said the new system is capable of handling up to 312 battery swaps per day.
On the side note, Sinopec may be an oil and gas company, but it has recognized the inevitable electric future.
Unlike many western countries where oil and gas tycoons refused to meet with the future, Sinopec is embracing it.
It is accelerating its transformation from traditional petroleum product sales to an integrated energy service provider of oil, gas, hydrogen, electricity and non-oil businesses.
It is also focusing on development of new dimensions such as battery swapping and high-power DC fast charging. Sinopec plans to setup 5,000 battery charging and swapping stations in “the next few years.”
Images: NIO.