On April 21st, NIO recently released a demonstration video of the "Drive-off Autonomous Battery Swap" function, allowing vehicle owners to park near the battery swap station and have their vehicles autonomously swap batteries after they leave.
NIO's demonstration video showcases how the "Drive-off Autonomous Battery Swap" automates the entire battery swapping process, achieving automation and intelligence.
For instance, when a vehicle owner arrives at a highway service area battery swap station and activates the "Drive-off Autonomous Battery Swap" function, they can leave the vehicle and attend to other activities such as shopping or using the restroom while the vehicle autonomously seeks out a parking spot.
If there are vehicles ahead undergoing battery swaps, it can queue up in the waiting area. During the battery swap process, the vehicle autonomously drives into the swap area, swaps the battery, and then parks itself, awaiting the return of the owner.
Compared to previous battery swap methods, the "Drive-off Autonomous Battery Swap" function does not occupy the owner's time at highway service areas or other locations, making the battery swap process fully automated and minimizing its impact on the owner.
Currently, NIO has not announced the official launch date for this function, only stating "stay tuned for updates."
