Nio reveled today its new 100 kWh battery pack with a cell-to-pack design, with which it will allow owners the option to upgrade. A unique decision that isn’t seen very often in the industry.
Nio was previously offering a 70 kWh or 84 kWh battery pack giving its ES6 electric SUV 255 to 317 miles of range. A number that will surely increase with the introduction of its new 100 kWh battery pack with “cell-to-pack” design.:
“NIO has always been committed to the R&D and innovation in battery technology. With over 300 patents filed and gained, the 100 kWh battery features the CTP (cell to pack) technology, realizing 37% higher energy density. Powered by the 100 kWh battery, the NEDC range of NIO models can now reach up to 615 km. The excellent performance of the 100 kWh battery is underpinned by four technological improvements: better thermal runaway management thanks to the thermal propagation prevention design; the highly integrated design that streamlines the manufacturing by 40% and improves space utilization by 19.8%; the all-climate thermal management that improves the performance and extends the lifetime of the battery; and the end-cloud bi-directional communication BMS that supports smart parameter adjustments based on work conditions to improve the battery’s performance under all conditions.”
The new 100 kWh battery pack will be available in new cars, available for pre-order on November 7, as well as giving current owners of vehicles with 70 kWh battery packs the option to upgrade to the new “cell-to-pack” 100 kWh battery.
The fact that NIO is giving the option to upgrade in itself is quite unique and could breed jealousy in other EV owners. No price was released for the upgrade but, the company did announce that owners will also be able to buy a new battery pack as a service subscription: “Users of the 70 kWh battery can choose to either purchase the new battery for a permanent upgrade, or flexibly upgrade to it for RMB 880 per month or RMB 7,980 per year.”