NIO’s newest 2nd-generation battery swap station has opened in China, and in the days following, users online rumored that Tesla would be going back to a similar battery swap program.
In a new report from CnEVPost (via electrek), it appears that Tesla has outright denied claims of moving back to a battery swap business model, while also criticizing NIO for its similar model, saying that the battery swap program was “riddled with problems and not suitable for widescale use.”
The rumor spread after Tesla reportedly added a new registration status in China, which held that the company would be adding “sales of battery swap facilities for new energy vehicles.” Many took this to mean that it would be following in NIO’s footsteps trying to standardize the charging method.
We will not be doing battery #swap, #China media citing Tesla China on adding #battery swap to its scope of business.
Earlier report said Tesla added "#NEV battery swap facilities sales" to its business license.https://t.co/P4HSbZudxg— Moneyball (@DKurac) March 1, 2021
While Tesla previously opened a single battery swap station in California in 2014, it quickly closed the facility, with some later speculating that the company may have just been a means to gaining access to increased California subsidies.
NIO’s battery swapping business model was launched in 2018, and, being the only EV company with the facilities available, reaching 500,000 total battery swaps in China last year.
