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The driver presses a button on the vehicle’s dash screen, and the car autonomously backs itself into the bay. Lateral rollers, like the conveyors that move luggage through airport scanners, then precisely position the car above a scissor jack capable of handling up to 2.5 tons worth of EV. This lifts the car about 2 inches off the floor so there’s no weight on the suspension.
A magnet then attaches itself to the bottom of the car, which is also the bottom of the removable battery pack, and then electric screwdrivers remove the 10 patented Bayobolt quick swap screws.
Byrjall says Nio has had no problems dealing with ice buildup on the undercarriage because the battery is usually warm enough to melt it.
The old pack is taken away on a slider to charge in what Nio calls the “battery hotel” at a gentle 20- to 60-kilowatt speed, depending on how busy the station is. A fresh, charged pack is slid into place. The entire process takes about five minutes, which is in the ballpark of the time needed to pump gasoline. However, waiting in line would lengthen that time estimate — just as it would lengthen the time it takes to fill a gas tank.
All of Nio’s battery packs have the same dimensions, even if their power capacity differs. Right now, the Nio ES8 crossover sold in Norway comes with a 100-kilowatt-hour pack that weighs 1,224 pounds. But this year, Nio will bring a 75-kWh pack, and in 2023 a 150-kWh pack. They all fit in the same pack size with similar weights.
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