NIO Redefines Electric Vehicle Charging in the UAE with 3-Minute Battery Swaps

ABU DHABI / GULF TIME

NIO, a global leader in premium smart electric vehicles, is redefining how drivers in the UAE power their EVs with the successful deployment of its Power Swap Station technology. Offering a seamless alternative to conventional charging, NIO’s patented battery swapping technology enables users to receive a charged battery in as little as 3-minutes.
This advanced infrastructure provides a faster and more energy efficient solution compared to traditional EV charging, addressing two of the biggest challenges facing EV adoption in the UAE: long charging times and limited charger availability.
The system is fully automated, from autonomously parking inside the station, to removing and replacing the discharged battery and a complete health check is performed on the battery, motor, and electric systems. Every swapped battery is charged under optimal conditions and monitored to ensure peak performance and safety.

The five key benefits of battery swapping are:

• As fast as refuelling, a battery swap only takes 3-minutes
• Hassle-free and automated swap, without leaving the car
• Every swap is a health check, ensuring every battery is in Full system health check at every swap
• Optimized charging for longer battery lifespan
• A swappable battery is more easily reused or recycled

The UAE’s first Power Swap Station was officially opened in February 2025, located at Yas Marina Circuit. Since then, around 15% of NIO users in the UAE are actively battery swapping, a number which will continue to grow as more stations are added to the network. This reflects genuine user adoption and an increasing preference among local users.
Unlike conventional charging, that, due to charging curves, slows as the battery nears full capacity, battery swapping provides a charged replacement instantly. NIO Power Swap can provide a more efficient energy deliver solution for the user, eliminating delays, making electric vehicles more practical for everyday use.

Comparing swapping to charging, a 100-kilowatt-hour battery from 5% to 95% would typically take:

• 8 hours on 11kW AC – up to 99% time saving via NIO Power Swap Station
• 2 hours on 50kW DC – up to 97% time saving via NIO Power Swap Station
• 45 minutes on 120kW DC – up to 93% time saving via NIO Power Swap Station

To date, more than 1,749 kilowatt-hours of electricity have been delivered through battery swaps. Delivering the same amount of energy with a 120kW DC charger would take around 15 hours, while the Power Swap Station has done it in just 1.4 hours of total swapping time, a tenfold improvement in energy delivery time.
As demand for battery swapping continues to grow, a second NIO Power Swap Station is set to open in Dubai in the coming weeks, with further stations to follow later this year.
NIO’s Power Swap Station reinforces the brand’s alignment with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, which encourages investment in sustainable and innovative mobility solutions designed to support the UAE’s fast-growing population.