Onvo has released a video demonstrating the process of replacing the L60 battery after it has been used up in less than 4 minutes. The L60 electric car is aimed at Chinese families with an affordable price of 29,500 USD (about 750 million). According to information from the company, the L60 is similar in size and competes directly with the Tesla Model Y. However, unlike the Model Y, the Onvo L60's battery can be replaced at Nio's battery swap stations.
The first of the fourth-generation battery swapping stations are set to begin operating in the summer of 2024, and they are designed to accommodate a variety of battery types. The Onvo L60 uses a thinner battery made by BYD, with a capacity of just 60 or 84 kWh, compared to the 75, 100, or 150 kWh in Nio’s higher-end models. Nio also said that it has been continuously improving its battery swapping stations, with the process now taking just 144 seconds.
After reversing, the car automatically shifts into neutral and performs a system check. The car then cuts off the main power (the infotainment screen and fan remain on) and is lifted up for battery replacement. The old battery is then removed and a new one installed. The car undergoes a final check, and when the speedometer and gear selector return to normal, the owner can use the car as normal.
According to Onvo, the entire process takes 3 minutes and 44 seconds (including the time it takes for the car to drive itself to the station), which is about the same time it takes a normal car to fill up. Even cars that use DC fast charging can’t do it any faster.
Nio recently announced that its battery swap service has surpassed 60 million battery swaps. It currently has 2,785 stations in China, including 909 along highways. In July 2024, Nio reached 2,500 battery swap stations worldwide, with 51 in Europe.