NIO Unveils Ambitious Plan to Expand Sichuan-Tibet EV Power Swap Network

On August 30th, at the Chengdu International Auto Show, NIO's co-founder and president, Qin Lihong, announced the 318 Sichuan-Tibet Power Swap Line Layout. This layout aims to establish a seamless power swap route from Chengdu to Tibet. Currently, there are 5 existing power swap stations along the route, and NIO plans to add 9 more, bringing the total to 14 stations along the 2,800 km stretch. The deployment of the Sichuan segment of power swap stations is expected to be completed this year, while the Tibet segment will be deployed before next year's Chengdu Auto Show.
Since December 2020, when China's first Sichuan-Tibet express charging route was completed, NIO has built 14 charging stations along this route, allowing users to charge their vehicles en route to Tibet, reaching an altitude of 5,200 meters at the Everest Base Camp. Currently, NIO has built 31 charging stations along the route, enhancing the convenience for users traveling to Tibet.
NIO continues to enhance its power swap network along the 318 Sichuan-Tibet route to provide users with a more convenient charging experience. To date, NIO has established 36 power swap and charging stations along this route, including crucial points such as Chengdu (the starting point), Ya'an, Tianquan, Nyingchi, and Lhasa. Furthermore, NIO plans to build an additional 9 power swap stations at locations including Xinduqiao, Litang, Batang, Zuogong, Bomi, Gongbujiangda, Shigatse, and Dingri, with an average distance of 223 km between stations.
To further support the initiative, NIO has disclosed a plan to establish power swap stations in all 183 counties in Sichuan by June of next year. Qin Lihong emphasized that the company aims to achieve full coverage of provincial-level administrative regions for both charging and power swap stations by June 30, 2025, with the goal of extending this to 27 provincial-level regions by December 31, 2025.
The introduction of the Sichuan-Tibet power swap route is a significant development for electric vehicle (EV) users, as it offers more accessible and efficient charging and power swap services. As the charging and power swap network expands, the applicability and convenience of EVs will continue to grow.