Shanghai (ZXZC)- Hefei, the capital of China's Anhui province, plans to apply for the pilot city of new energy vehicle (NEV) battery swapping model development and has started preparations for the application, according to a local media outlet, who got the information from Hefei Public Resources Trading Center.

NIO's battery swapping station; photo credit: NIO

According to the report, Hefei features sound basic conditions for the development of NEV battery swapping model and possesses the key elements to apply for the trial program. Through the application, Hefei will strive to build a reproducible development pattern in NEV charging and battery swapping spheres.

Hefei municipal government will conduct relevant researches in such regions as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hainan, where the development of battery swapping business is well supported. Meanwhile, it will encourage the pilot application of battery swapping technologies and facilities in buses, taxis, and urban logistics & distribution services.

Hefei has already attracted a number of NEV manufacturers and suppliers including NIO, JAC, Volkswagen (Anhui), BYD, and EVE Energy. Last year, Hefei government agreed to work with NIO, the NEV startup at the forefront of battery swapping industry in China, to jointly add 20 battery swapping stations by the end of 2021.

Hefei is vigorously boosting the deployment of NEV energy supply infrastructures by issuing many supportive policies. Currently, roughly 240,000kWh per day of electricity are flowing to NEVs across the city on average, according to data publicly disclosed. In addition, Hefei has had over 48,000 NEV charging piles with the ratio of NEVs to charging piles of 1.25:1.