Nio signs new deal to adopt CATL’s Choco-SEB battery swap standard – firefly EVs to integrate technology

Nio and CATL have signed a strategic partnership with the goal of building the world’s largest battery swapping network. The deal will also include capital cooperation, with CATL currently advancing an investment capped at 2.5 billion yuan (around RM1.5 billion) in Nio Power.

In an official release, CATL said it will support Nio in developing a battery swapping network, while its Choco-Swap technical standards and network will be introduced to the subsequent newly developed models of firefly, which is Nio’s new brand that launched last December.

CATL entered the battery swap business in January 2022 with the launch of its EVOGO battery swap brand. In December 2024, it revealed two battery packs that meet its Choco-SEB (Swapping Electric Block) standard, the #20 and #25.

Both batteries are available with either lithium iron phosphate (LFP) or nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistries but with differing energy capacities. The #20 is offered as a 42-kWh LFP or 52-kWh NMC unit, while the #25, which is suited for larger vehicle classes, is available with 56-kWh LFP or 70-kWh NMC capacities.

Since introducing Choco-SEB, CATL said 10 EVs will support the battery swap standard, with the Firefly by Nio being another to join the list. It was previously reported that the Firefly would not be compatible with Nio Power’s existing battery swap stations, and now we know why.

The battery swap networks of both parties will operate in parallel, but this could change moving forward. “In the future, both parties will jointly drive the formulation and adoption of national standards for battery swapping technology in China, further enhancing battery compatibility across various brands and models,” CATL said in its release.

The post Nio signs new deal to adopt CATL’s Choco-SEB battery swap standard – firefly EVs to integrate technology appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.