Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 18, 2025, NIO Power and Zhong' an Energy announced that the first 50 EV charging and battery swap stations jointly developed by the two companies have begun operations across Anhui province. The rollout marks a significant step forward in their strategic partnership and underscores NIO Power's broader push to open up its energy ecosystem through collaborative development.
NIO Power launched its "Charging Partner" program in August 2024 to accelerate external collaboration. Since then, the initiative has brought together 35 partners—including urban and transport investment platforms—across 25 provinces and regions, resulting in the co-construction of nearly 200 charging and swap stations and signaling a shift toward large-scale implementation of industry partnerships.
Prior to this collaboration, NIO had already established extensive partnerships with major domestic and international energy players, power grid operators, and battery manufacturers. These alliances have focused on standardizing battery swap systems and scaling up energy infrastructure, with the aim of delivering faster, more convenient refueling solutions and improving the overall usability of pure electric vehicles.
Over its 11-year history, NIO has invested roughly 18 billion yuan in EV charging and battery swap technologies and infrastructure. The company has built a nationwide network of 8,466 facilities—the largest in the industry—including more than 3,600 battery swap stations and 4,839 EV charging stations, with its highway battery swap network now connecting 550 cities. NIO has also extended infrastructure deployment to destinations where facilities were previously limited but demand is high, creating 80 so-called "energy scenic routes" that are open to all new energy vehicle users, not just NIO owners.
In Anhui alone, NIO has deployed 405 EV charging and battery swap stations, including 190 battery swap stations and 215 EV charging stations. Battery swap coverage now spans 100 districts and counties, highways included, reaching more than 90% of the province's administrative areas. In November, NIO completed the "Picturesque Anhui" self-driving battery swap route, linking Anqing, Chizhou, Xuancheng, and Huangshan—cities known for their cultural heritage and natural landscapes. Stretching 800 kilometers and connecting 13 major attractions, the route is supported by 14 battery swap stations, enabling both local residents and visiting tourists to travel with greater ease and efficiency, and reinforcing Anhui's ambition to become a global benchmark for smart electric vehicle usage.
To date, NIO has delivered nearly 95 million battery swap services, with the milestone of 100 million battery swaps approaching. The company says battery swapping has now evolved into a mainstream energy replenishment option, reflecting growing user acceptance and the maturation of the supporting infrastructure.
