2026-06-25
On May 14, the China International Battery Swapping Industry Conference (also known as the "BRICS Battery Swapping Forum") was grandly held in the Starry Sky Hall of the Shanghai Auto Exhibition Center. The event was jointly organized by China Charging Pile Network, the Charging and Swapping 100-Person Forum, and the PV-Storage-Charging-Swapping Industry Alliance.
This forum brings together experts, scholars, and corporate representatives from across the country to focus on three core areas: first, exploring the standardization of battery swapping and business model innovations—such as the separation of vehicles and batteries—to overcome bottlenecks hindering large-scale development; second, conducting an in-depth analysis of operational efficiency and technology applications for battery swapping in commercial sectors, including logistics vehicles and heavy-duty trucks; and third, investigating pathways for the integrated development of solar power, energy storage, charging, and battery swapping, alongside Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) interaction, to build a new energy system. The initiative aims to foster the industry's sustainable development through collaborative effort.
Xu Xiaodong
Deputy General Manager, Nengyixing (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd.
On the morning of May 14, Xu Xiaodong, Deputy General Manager of Nengyixing (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd., delivered a presentation titled "How to Choose New Energy Recharging/Refueling Solutions."
▲The meeting venue
The following is the full text of the speech delivered at the event.
Distinguished guests, good morning!
I am Xu Xiaodong, Deputy General Manager of Nengyixing. I oversee the company's two core business areas: technology R&D and market sales. Today, I would like to share a presentation titled "How to Choose Energy Replenishment Methods for New Energy Vehicles." While "charging" is the most common method for replenishing energy in new energy vehicles, battery swapping serves as a complementary solution.
Next, I will provide an overview covering energy replenishment needs, available methods, and Nengyixing’s specific product offerings in this space.
I. Energy Replenishment Needs
Currently, the population of new energy vehicles exceeds 40 million. The number of vehicles outstrips the number of charging piles, resulting in a vehicle-to-pile ratio of approximately 2:1. These figures, based on statistics from 2020 to 2025, encompass both passenger and commercial vehicles. There are currently over 5,000 battery-swapping stations nationwide, with a ratio of roughly 4:1 between those serving passenger vehicles and those serving commercial vehicles.
Regarding energy replenishment infrastructure, support for passenger vehicles is relatively robust, whereas support for commercial vehicles remains insufficient.
Current energy replenishment methods include home charging, urban fast charging, highway supercharging, commercial battery swapping, and temporary power solutions. For passenger vehicles, home charging is the primary method, while ride-hailing drivers and owners without private charging access rely more heavily on urban supercharging. For long-haul highway travel, "flash charging" and supercharging technologies are now available, capable of providing 500 kilometers of range in just five minutes. From an operational standpoint, battery swapping saves time; if that saved time generates value, then swapping is a worthwhile choice. While battery swapping involves significant upfront investment, the cost is only perceived as high if it fails to create value; conversely, if it generates value and delivers business benefits, the cost is justified. We need to evaluate the future of battery swapping from a long-term perspective.
We offer our own battery-swapping products, including specialized solutions for scenarios involving diesel generator power sources.
II. How to Choose an Energy Replenishment Method?
In reality, there is no single "best" method—only the one that is most suitable for a given situation. It is important to understand the distinction between charging and swapping: battery swapping essentially trades time and location. In the swapping model, the vehicle remains on the road while energy replenishment takes place at a station; in the charging model, replenishment occurs directly on the vehicle itself. Therefore, the distinction between battery swapping and charging lies in the trade-off regarding time—specifically, cost-effectiveness—and location—specifically, the ability to maintain operational efficiency.
Regarding cost-effectiveness—a key concern for everyone—home charging is currently a very common method for passenger vehicles. It offers two main advantages: first, the initial investment cost is relatively low; second, passenger vehicles usually have downtime at night for charging, meaning a single charge every week or two suffices for daily commuting and short-distance urban travel.
Fast charging primarily serves urban public transport, ride-hailing services, and taxis. While some ride-hailing vehicles and taxis have adopted battery swapping, progress is hindered by a lack of standardized technology. A single city might host a wide variety of vehicle models; ride-hailing fleets often lack uniformity, whereas taxi fleets tend to be more standardized. Consequently, battery swapping for taxis has succeeded in many cities—Geely, a company we have served, has performed well in this regard in locations such as Chongqing, Shandong, and Zhejiang.
Next, let’s discuss supercharging. For passenger vehicles, supercharging primarily addresses the need for energy replenishment on highways. Anyone who has driven on highways during holidays has likely encountered the issue of strained charging capacity for electric vehicles. I once saw power lines being extended to highways to alleviate congestion, but I believe the key lies in standardizing energy replenishment. The long-term challenge for the passenger vehicle sector is achieving efficient energy replenishment. Given the massive number of passenger vehicles in China, if 20% of users require rapid replenishment, how can this be achieved? Charging is one option, but it faces constraints regarding parking facilities and station locations. Battery swapping requires less space, offers higher efficiency, and is more site-friendly; it also enables station-grid synergy—moving from the concept of V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) to S2G (Station-to-Grid) in a practical, implementable way. With a significant number of battery-swapping stations already in operation—each boasting a capacity of over 3 megawatts—implementing station-grid synergy offers clear advantages for the power grid.
Speaking of battery swapping, many clients have recently asked me whether they should build swapping stations; I always ask about their underlying objectives. One client wanted to build a service center near a highway exit but was constrained by standardization issues, so I advised them to opt for charging facilities instead. Scenarios where battery swapping investments yield real returns are those involving high-frequency users who require immediate service without waiting. Investment costs for battery swapping are gradually falling; while a station used to cost three to four million yuan, the price is now likely under one million.
Finally, let’s consider mobile energy replenishment. How can electric vehicles develop in remote areas that lack grid coverage? This can be achieved through mobile energy replenishment; historically, diesel generators were used for this purpose in settings like mines or remote bases.
Regarding the timeliness of energy replenishment, implementing supercharging for commercial vehicles is challenging. This is not merely an issue with the charging pile itself, but a systemic challenge spanning the entire value chain—from battery technology and vehicle integration to cost structures. Commercial vehicle energy replenishment primarily focuses on high-frequency short-haul operations and long-haul trunk transport. As autonomous driving technology advances, how will future energy needs be met? Currently, charging involves a human manually plugging in the connector. While standardization is easily achievable for future long-haul autonomous vehicles, the logistics of the actual charging process remain to be solved. Autonomous vehicles are designed for 24-hour operation, placing higher demands on energy replenishment that current supercharging solutions struggle to meet. While current models account for driver rest periods—allowing vehicles to charge while parked between tasks—the future lies in achieving synergy between autonomous driving and energy replenishment systems.
From a battery-swapping perspective, I believe we must offer customers options that deliver economic value. If a battery-swapping station generates economic benefits for the customer, it is a worthwhile investment; conversely, if a customer can meet their entire day's energy needs with a single charge and has time to charge overnight, there is no need for a battery-swapping station.
III. Nengyixing Energy Replenishment Product Portfolio
We do not limit ourselves to a single approach; Nengyixing is committed to serving every customer and ensuring they can select the product that best fits their needs. Our business focuses on areas such as battery-swapping stations (for both passenger and commercial vehicles), standard charging, and mobile energy replenishment.
Nengyixing covers the entire spectrum of energy replenishment. We provide not only finished products but also key components—such as electric drive assemblies for heavy-duty trucks, battery-swapping robots, material handling robots, and specialized mobile power delivery units. We welcome inquiries and offer ODM and OEM services tailored to specific customer requirements.
Nengyixing’s differentiated competitive advantages:
First, we maintain an integrated ecosystem comprising in-house R&D, manufacturing, and after-sales service to deliver efficient energy replenishment solutions. For instance, mobile energy replenishment requires broad operational coverage. While current charging modules operate within a 150V–1000V range, we are developing solutions for mining operations, which demand higher voltages—sometimes up to 1500V. Having identified this specific customer need, we developed industry-leading products that we can now offer to other clients operating in similar environments.
Second, standardization enabling shared use between vehicle systems and energy storage systems. In mining operations, customers utilize a mix of heavy-duty trucks, mining trucks, and construction machinery; the challenge lies in achieving integrated energy replenishment for this diverse fleet. We address this by providing solutions that support both charging and battery swapping.
Thirdly, our products are designed for environmental versatility. They are well-suited for high-altitude and high-dust/smog environments; for instance, our units are currently deployed for high-altitude operations in Tibet and have undergone validation in high-dust port environments, earning market recognition.
Nengyixing’s core product portfolio encompasses both charging and battery-swapping equipment. We have delivered over 900 units across 50 cities. Our manufacturing base in Yangzhou spans 55 mu (approximately 3.6 hectares) with over 20,000 square meters of production space, boasting a monthly capacity of around 30 battery-swapping stations and 2,000 battery packs, alongside key supporting components.
We have established strategic partnerships with operators, vehicle manufacturers, and battery cell suppliers, with products successfully deployed in overseas markets such as Southeast Asia and Africa.
There is no single "standard answer" for energy replenishment; the key is finding the solution that best fits your specific needs. Balancing the inherent trade-offs in energy replenishment is more important than simply pursuing extremes. From the fundamental contradictions of energy replenishment to overall system architecture, we invite you to discuss with us how to select the right solution for your operations. Nengyixing offers mature, comprehensive energy replenishment solutions tailored for manufacturers and system integrators.
That concludes my presentation. Thank you all!
