Shanghai (ZXZC)- Geely, the most high-profile privately owned automaker in China, is likely to tap the battery swapping field, which has been long touted by the EV startup NIO.

According to China's Trademark Office of National Intellectual Property Administration, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group registered in early April a trademark for battery swapping service dubbed “Yiyi Huandian (in Chinese)”.

(Photo source: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group)

Liu Jinliang, chairman of the Geely-backed mobility service platform “Cao Cao Mobility”, assumes the role of the general manager of the newborn brand, according to Tianyancha. Hence, some industry insiders surmise that Yiyi Huandian might serve the vehicles in commercial operation first, especially the all-electric vehicles for ride-hailing service, adopting a same approach to that of BAIC Group.

Vehicles deployed for mobility services are easily managed due to their limited sphere of activity, and more require a fast and convenient way to be recharged by reason of the long daily operating mileage, which may enable the battery swapping model to exert their advantages more easily.

After reached by a local media outlet, Geely didn't reveal when its battery swapping service can be commercially launched and become available to private cars' owners.

Geely's technical deployment in battery swapping can be date back to 2016 when it found “Hangzhou Gechi New Energy Technology Co.,Ltd.”, which was then renamed “Yiyi New Energy Technology Co.,Ltd.” in December 2019. Tianyancha shows that the company’s current line of businesses includes the operation of NEV charging and battery swapping stations and other relevant infrastructures.

Among the Chinese automakers that have battery swapping operations, NIO should be the most prominent one. It has to-day built 131 battery swapping stations in 58 cities across the country, according to local media reports.