Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio has made permanent a price cut for battery swapping and charging services in the Netherlands that was initially introduced as a temporary incentive in January.
At the time, Nio said customers could swap batteries or charge at its facilities near swap stations for €0.29 ($0.31) per kilowatt-hour, down 34% from the standard rate of €0.44/kWh. The promotion was originally set to expire at the end of March.
On Friday, incoming Dutch market head Tristan Hamelink announced on LinkedIn that the discounted rate will remain in place indefinitely.
“After overwhelming success, we’re excited to announce that our €0.29/kWh battery swapping and charging offer is here to stay — permanently!” the incoming chief for the Dutch market wrote on LinkedIn while noting that “rates may be subject to adjustment at Nio’s discretion at any time.”
He also emphasized that swapping remains “the fastest and most cost-effective way to power up—cheaper than AC and DC charging, where rates can exceed €0.60/kWh.”
In November, Nio provided the 100,000th battery swap in Europe, approximately 20 months after launching its first station outside China in Norway. Later in the year, the company announced a monthly battery upgrade option, allowing users in four of its five European markets to switch from the standard 75 kWh battery to a 100 kWh battery at its swap stations.
Leadership Change in the Netherlands
Earlier this month, Nio said Hamelink will replace Ruben Keuter as its head of the Dutch market. Keuter, who joined the company in March 2022 to oversee the Netherlands launch, will leave to join Hyundai on April 1.
Nio registered 233 vehicles in the Netherlands in 2024. As of the end of February, it had sold 26 vehicles year-to-date, down from 30 units in the same period last year, according to industry data from BOVAG.
According to the official website, Nio is currently offering “a lower monthly payment with an interest rate starting from 0.99%” for customers purchasing an ET5 or ET7. The offer applies only to in-stock vehicles and ends at the end of the month.
Battery Swap Patent
Just before the end of 2024, the company has filed a patent for a new expandable battery swap station system, which aims to tackle irregular demand in battery swap services, according to details released in a public patent application.
The patent, filed on December 27, describes a modular extension unit that can be attached to existing battery swap stations, increasing the number of batteries available. Currently, fourth-generation stations can store up to 23 batteries.