Firefly 60-kWh Battery Boosts CLTC Range to 560 km

Firefly Adds 60-kWh Battery Option, Extending Range to 560 km

Firefly, the small electric vehicle brand under Nio Inc, has introduced a 60-kWh battery pack for its compact electric car in China, giving new buyers and existing owners an option with a longer driving range. The new battery increases the vehicle's CLTC-rated range from 420 km to 560 km, a gain of 140 km, or approximately 33%. Previously, the model was offered only with a 42-kWh battery. The expanded lineup introduces a choice between two battery capacities without requiring customers to switch to a different vehicle model. The change also brings Firefly closer to the multiple-capacity battery offerings available across Nio's other vehicle brands.

Firefly Battery Options and Vehicle Pricing

The 60-kWh battery is available to new customers when they place an order, while existing owners can apply for a permanent battery upgrade under the brand's announced conditions. For outright purchases, the price difference between the 42-kWh and 60-kWh versions is 17,000 yuan. The upgrade structure gives customers a choice between a lower initial purchase price with the standard battery and a higher-priced configuration with a longer stated CLTC range. Firefly also offers its battery-as-a-service (BaaS) arrangement, under which customers pay a lower vehicle purchase price and a recurring monthly battery rental fee. The prices below reflect the lineup reported for October 2026.

Firefly Trim Pricing and Battery Configurations in October 2026

Permanent Battery Upgrade Rules for Existing Owners

Existing Firefly owners who purchased their vehicles outright can apply for the permanent battery upgrade at least one year after the purchase invoice date. The announced price difference is 17,000 yuan for the change from the 42-kWh battery to the 60-kWh pack. Owners using the BaaS plan follow a different arrangement: they pay a permanent upgrade service fee of 3,000 yuan, and their monthly battery rental fee increases from 399 yuan to 599 yuan after the upgrade. These provisions distinguish between customers who purchased the battery as part of the vehicle and those who use the battery rental model, while allowing both groups to access the higher-capacity option under the applicable conditions.

Limited-Time Upgrade Promotion and Eligibility

Firefly has also announced promotional benefits for eligible first owners who locked in orders for vehicles equipped with the 42-kWh battery on or before October 22, 2026. Qualifying BaaS users can receive a 1,000-yuan service-fee coupon, reducing the permanent upgrade service fee from 3,000 yuan to 2,000 yuan. Owners who purchased their vehicles outright receive 20,000 credit points, which the announcement values at the same amount. The permanent upgrade must be completed on or before December 31, 2027, to qualify for these offers. Customers considering the change need to distinguish the promotional eligibility requirements from the general upgrade terms, particularly the purchase method, order date, and completion deadline.

New-Customer Prices for the 60-kWh Version

For new customers, the Firefly equipped with the 60-kWh battery starts at 136,800 yuan under an outright purchase arrangement. The entry price under BaaS starts at 79,800 yuan, with a monthly battery rental fee of 599 yuan. The published trim-level pricing shows that the vehicle's purchase price varies by edition, while the monthly rental fee is determined by the selected battery capacity. Across the Free, Glow, and Halo editions, the 60-kWh version carries a higher outright purchase price than its 42-kWh counterpart. Under BaaS, the listed vehicle prices remain the same between battery configurations within each trim, while the monthly fee increases for the higher-capacity battery.

Battery Chemistry and Vehicle Performance

The new 60-kWh battery uses ternary lithium cells, whereas the standard 42-kWh pack uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. Firefly says the larger-capacity battery increases energy storage while keeping the battery's physical size and the vehicle's curb weight unchanged. The company also states that both battery versions accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. This means the longer-range configuration is presented as a capacity upgrade rather than a change to the model's published acceleration performance. The different cell chemistries distinguish the two battery options, while the shared exterior dimensions and vehicle weight help preserve the compact car's existing packaging and performance specifications.

Standardized Battery Design Enables Upgrades

The 42-kWh and 60-kWh battery packs use compatible standardized module designs. According to the announcement, the two versions share the same housing dimensions, mounting points, and locking mechanism, allowing eligible existing vehicles to receive the higher-capacity battery without replacing the entire car. This common physical design is central to the permanent upgrade arrangement because it supports a battery change within the existing vehicle architecture. Rather than requiring owners to purchase a different vehicle to obtain the longer range, the system provides a way to move from the standard pack to the larger option. The stated compatibility also supports Firefly's broader approach of offering different battery capacities within the same model lineup.

Firefly Expands Access to Nio Battery-Swapping Infrastructure

The battery launch follows Firefly's expansion of access to the parent company's battery-swapping network. On August 7, 2026, Firefly gained access to Nio Inc's fifth-generation battery-swap stations for the first time. Before that change, the brand could not use fourth-generation stations because the Firefly vehicle's shorter body and wheelbase were incompatible with those facilities. Access to the newer stations adds another element to the brand's energy-replenishment offering alongside the newly introduced battery capacity. The combination of battery swapping and multiple battery options gives Firefly customers additional ways to access the vehicle's energy system, although the specific station compatibility described in the announcement relates to the fifth-generation network.

Firefly's Position in China's Small EV Market

Firefly launched in China in April 2025 and currently sells one model, which shares the brand's name. It targets the small electric vehicle segment and competes with brands including Mini and Smart. The introduction of a larger battery expands the model's configuration choices without adding a separate vehicle to the lineup. For shoppers, the additional capacity offers a higher stated CLTC range, while the 42-kWh option remains available at lower outright purchase prices and lower monthly BaaS rental fees. The lineup therefore provides different combinations of initial cost, recurring battery expense, and rated range within the same compact vehicle family.

Deliveries Reach 90,000 Units as Sales Grow

Firefly's expanded battery lineup arrives as its cumulative deliveries continue to increase. On October 16, 2026, the brand announced that total deliveries had reached 90,000 vehicles, approximately one and a half months after it reached 80,000 units at the end of August. Firefly delivered 7,327 vehicles in September, a monthly record. That result represented a year-over-year increase of 26.87% and a month-over-month increase of 25.21%. Deliveries during the first nine months of 2026 totaled 48,122 vehicles. These figures provide context for the battery expansion, showing that the new configuration was introduced as the brand recorded higher monthly deliveries and continued building its presence in China's small EV segment.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Firefly's 60-kWh option broadens the choices available in China's small electric vehicle market by combining a longer stated CLTC range with a permanent upgrade path for existing owners. Its standardized battery packaging allows the capacity change without replacing the entire vehicle, while the BaaS structure offers a lower initial vehicle price in exchange for recurring rental fees. Access to Nio's fifth-generation swapping stations also connects the model to a broader energy-replenishment offering. With cumulative deliveries reaching 90,000 units in October 2026, the expanded lineup gives Firefly another way to address differing customer range and budget preferences. Its longer-term commercial effect will depend on customer uptake, the value buyers place on the additional range, and the appeal of its purchase and battery-rental arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the range of the Firefly 60-kWh battery version?
The Firefly 60-kWh battery version has a stated CLTC range of 560 km, compared with 420 km for the standard 42-kWh configuration. This represents an increase of 140 km, or approximately 33%, according to the reported specifications. The higher-capacity battery is available to new customers when ordering the vehicle and can also be installed in eligible existing vehicles through a permanent upgrade. These figures refer to the CLTC test cycle and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of the distance a vehicle will cover under every real-world driving condition.

How much does it cost to upgrade an existing Firefly to the 60-kWh battery?
Existing Firefly owners who purchased their vehicles outright can upgrade from the 42-kWh battery to the 60-kWh version for a price difference of 17,000 yuan. The application must be made at least one year after the vehicle's purchase invoice date. Owners using the battery-as-a-service plan pay a permanent upgrade service fee of 3,000 yuan, after which the monthly battery rental fee increases from 399 yuan to 599 yuan. Eligible customers may also qualify for the announced promotional benefits, subject to the order-date and completion-deadline requirements.

What promotional benefits are available for existing Firefly owners?
Firefly announced temporary upgrade benefits for eligible first owners who locked in orders for 42-kWh vehicles on or before October 22, 2026. Qualifying BaaS users can receive a 1,000-yuan service-fee coupon, reducing the permanent upgrade fee to 2,000 yuan. Owners who purchased their vehicles outright receive 20,000 credit points, which the announcement values at the same amount. To qualify, the permanent upgrade must be completed by December 31, 2027. These offers are subject to the stated eligibility conditions and are distinct from the standard upgrade prices.

What is the difference between Firefly's 42-kWh and 60-kWh batteries?
The standard 42-kWh battery uses lithium iron phosphate cells, while the new 60-kWh pack uses ternary lithium cells. The larger battery increases the stated CLTC range from 420 km to 560 km, while Firefly says the battery size and vehicle curb weight remain unchanged. Both configurations have a published 0-to-100-km/h acceleration time of 7.9 seconds. The packs also share standardized housing dimensions, mounting points, and locking mechanisms, enabling eligible existing vehicles to receive the higher-capacity battery without replacing the entire car.

How much does a new Firefly with the 60-kWh battery cost?
The new Firefly with the 60-kWh battery starts at 136,800 yuan when purchased outright. Under the BaaS arrangement, the starting vehicle price is 79,800 yuan, with a monthly battery rental fee of 599 yuan. The complete price depends on the selected trim: Free, Glow, or Halo. The published October 2026 pricing shows that the 60-kWh configuration has a higher outright purchase price than the 42-kWh version in each trim, while the BaaS vehicle price remains the same within each trim and the monthly battery rental fee rises with the larger battery.

Can existing Firefly vehicles use Nio's battery-swapping stations?
Firefly gained access to Nio's fifth-generation battery-swapping stations on August 7, 2026, expanding the energy-replenishment options available to its customers. Previously, the vehicle could not use fourth-generation stations because its shorter body and wheelbase were incompatible with those facilities. The reported change specifically concerns access to the fifth-generation network. Firefly's new 60-kWh battery also uses standardized dimensions and mounting arrangements compatible with the 42-kWh version, supporting permanent upgrades in eligible existing vehicles. Battery-swapping access and permanent battery upgrades are related parts of the brand's energy strategy, but they are separate capabilities.