NIO, a global electric vehicle (EV) company, is changing how people charge their EVs in the UAE with its 3-minute battery swap stations. Instead of waiting for their car to charge, NIO users can now get a fully charged battery in just three minutes, saving up to 99% of the time compared to regular charging.
The first NIO Power Swap Station opened at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi in February 2025. Already, 15% of NIO users in the UAE are using this fast, new way to power their EVs. NIO plans to open its first Dubai location in the coming weeks, with more stations to follow.
This system is fully automated—drivers don’t even need to get out of their car. The station parks the vehicle, removes the empty battery, and replaces it with a fully charged one. At the same time, it performs a full health check on the car’s systems and battery. Each battery is charged under the best conditions and regularly checked for safety and performance.
Benefits of battery swapping include:
3-minute swaps, as fast as filling fuel
No need to leave your car
Health checks during every swap
Longer battery life due to controlled charging
Easier to reuse or recycle batteries
Compared to traditional charging:
AC charging (8 hours) → 99% time saved
50kW DC charging (2 hours) → 97% time saved
120kW DC charging (45 minutes) → 93% time saved
So far, over 1,749 kWh of power has been delivered through battery swaps in just 1.4 hours, which would have taken 15 hours using a regular charger. NIO’s solution supports Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030, promoting smart, sustainable transport in the UAE.
