Nio Battery Swap Network Sets 2026 Spring Festival Service Records in China

The Nio battery swap network experienced unprecedented demand during China’s 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, completing more than two million battery swap services within a two-week window. As millions of drivers returned home, the company’s extensive battery swap stations and EV charging infrastructure were pushed to new operational limits. The surge not only set multiple daily service records but also demonstrated the scalability of battery swapping during peak intercity travel. With rapid expansion across expressway service areas and growing vehicle deliveries, the Nio battery swap network reinforced its strategic role in supporting long-distance electric mobility in China.

Record-Breaking Performance During Spring Festival

Between February 10 and 23, the Nio battery swap network delivered 2,073,500 battery swap services across 3,750 battery swap stations. Daily service volume rose 29.4% year-on-year, reflecting accelerating adoption and higher utilization during the Spring Festival travel rush. The 2026 Chinese New Year holiday, which ran from February 15 to 23, marked one of the most intensive operating periods in the company’s history.

Five Consecutive Daily Highs

From February 18 to 22, the Nio battery swap network recorded five consecutive days of historic highs. The peak came on February 22, when 177,627 swaps were completed in a single day. This performance underscores the resilience of battery swap stations under sustained high-load conditions and growing reliance on EV charging infrastructure during holiday migrations.

Expressway Service Areas Drive Utilization

Expressway corridors played a central role in supporting long-distance travel. Nio operated 720 battery swap stations within expressway service areas, where an average of one vehicle completed a swap every 0.5 minutes during peak periods. Including stations near highway entrances and exits, the Nio battery swap network spans 1,022 locations along major expressways.

High-Traffic Highway Stations

The busiest expressway service areas handled nearly 200 daily services each, demonstrating the strategic placement of battery swap stations along major travel arteries. From February 15 to 23, the company supplied 25,283,118 kWh of electricity on expressways, accounting for approximately 15% of China’s expressway vehicle electricity consumption during that period.

Infrastructure Expansion and Fleet Growth

The sustained surge in the Nio battery swap network is closely linked to expanding vehicle deliveries and infrastructure rollout. By the end of January 2026, cumulative vehicle deliveries surpassed 1.02 million units. Over 130,000 vehicles from its mass-market sub-brand Onvo were integrated into the battery swap stations ecosystem, boosting network utilization rates.

Just days before the Spring Festival, on February 6, the Nio battery swap network achieved a milestone of 100 million cumulative battery swap services, reinforcing its scale advantage in China’s evolving EV charging infrastructure landscape.

Industry-Wide Charging Surge

The intense demand experienced by the Nio battery swap network reflects a broader charging challenge during holiday travel peaks. Across China, EV charging infrastructure providers reported sharp increases in usage as self-driving traffic volumes rose significantly.

High-Voltage Charging Expansion

Other automakers focused on expanding 800V high-voltage ultra-fast charging solutions to manage long-distance travel demand. From February 9 to 23, one major EV manufacturer delivered over 880,000 charging sessions to its own users and provided more than 700,000 sessions to drivers of other brands, consuming more than 52 million kWh of electricity. This comparison highlights how battery swap stations and fast-charging networks are evolving in parallel to address seasonal mobility spikes.

Overall, the Spring Festival performance illustrates how the Nio battery swap network has matured into a high-capacity system capable of sustaining record-level demand while supporting China’s expanding electric vehicle ecosystem.