Nio Battery Swap Network Handles Over 1 Million Services During China’s May Day Holiday

Nio completed more than one million battery swap services during China’s May Day holiday travel rush, underlining the increasing dependence of electric vehicle users on the company’s nationwide energy infrastructure network. The Chinese EV manufacturer stated that its 3,839 battery swap stations delivered 1,031,469 battery swap services between April 30 and May 6. The operational figures highlighted how battery swapping continues to play a major role in supporting long-distance electric mobility during peak travel seasons across China.

The company currently operates three automotive brands, including the primary Nio lineup, the Onvo sub-brand, and the Firefly sub-brand. Battery swap compatibility has already been integrated across Nio and Onvo vehicles, while Firefly models are expected to join the ecosystem later. On May 1, daily battery swap transactions climbed to 170,585, approaching the company’s previous peak of 177,627 swaps recorded during the Spring Festival travel period earlier this year.

The May Day holiday period, observed from May 1 to May 5, generated substantial pressure on the country’s public charging and energy infrastructure systems as millions of travelers moved across regions. During the five-day period, Nio’s highway charging and battery swap facilities supplied more than 15.43 million kWh of electricity. According to the company, this represented approximately 16.3 percent of the total EV charging and battery swap demand recorded on highways throughout China during the holiday travel season.

Battery swapping remained the dominant energy solution for Nio users traveling on highways. The company reported that more than 75.8 percent of the power consumed by users in highway scenarios came from battery swap services instead of conventional charging methods. Nio’s nationwide network of 1,035 highway battery swap stations also reduced waiting times significantly, saving drivers more than 220,984 hours collectively. Compared with the same holiday period last year, the total time savings improved by around 20 percent.

More than 220,000 users reportedly completed their long-distance travel entirely through battery swap services without depending on traditional charging infrastructure. Additionally, over 130,000 users traveled distances exceeding 1,000 kilometers during the holiday period, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 70.5 percent. The data demonstrated the growing acceptance of battery swapping as a viable alternative for extended EV travel, particularly in regions with heavy traffic movement and high charging demand.

Nio’s broader public charging business also recorded strong activity levels during the holiday season. The company currently operates 5,010 charging stations across China, offering a combined total of 28,806 charging piles. During the five-day travel period, more than 87 percent of the electricity delivered through Nio’s charging stations was consumed by vehicles belonging to other automotive brands. This highlighted the company’s increasing role as a wider public EV infrastructure provider rather than serving only its own customer base.

Nio is continuing to expand its battery swap network across major transportation routes in China. The company plans to fully connect the Hexi Corridor section of its Silk Road battery swap route on May 10. Once the broader Silk Road route is completed later this year, drivers are expected to travel across all provincial-level administrative regions in mainland China using only battery swap services for energy replenishment during their journeys.

The company is also preparing the next stage of infrastructure expansion with the upcoming rollout of fifth-generation battery swap stations. Management previously stated that large-scale deployment is expected to begin during July and August this year. The upgraded stations feature redesigned architecture capable of supporting a broader range of vehicle wheelbases while ensuring compatibility with vehicles from Nio, Onvo, and Firefly. The infrastructure enhancement is intended to improve operational flexibility and support the company’s expanding multi-brand ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many battery swap services did Nio complete during the May Day holiday?
Nio completed more than 1.03 million battery swap services between April 30 and May 6 during China’s May Day holiday travel period. The company’s extensive network of 3,839 battery swap stations handled the surge in demand as millions of EV users traveled across the country. The figures highlighted the increasing adoption of battery swapping technology for long-distance travel and demonstrated the scalability of Nio’s infrastructure during one of China’s busiest transportation periods.

Why are Nio’s battery swap stations important for EV users?
Nio’s battery swap stations help reduce charging wait times and support uninterrupted long-distance EV travel. Instead of waiting for batteries to recharge, users can replace depleted batteries with fully charged units in a short period. During the holiday season, the company’s highway battery swap network reportedly saved users more than 220,000 hours collectively. The growing infrastructure also supports broader EV adoption by improving travel convenience and reducing dependency on conventional charging stations.

What infrastructure expansion plans does Nio have for 2026?
Nio plans to continue expanding its nationwide battery swap and charging network throughout the year. The company aims to complete the Silk Road battery swap route and begin large-scale deployment of fifth-generation battery swap stations. These upgraded stations are designed to support multiple vehicle brands and accommodate more vehicle sizes through a redesigned architecture. The expansion strategy is intended to strengthen long-distance EV mobility and improve nationwide access to energy infrastructure.