Nio EL6 review

Price: £57,000 (estimate)

Electrifying.com score

8/10

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Large electric SUVs may be commonplace these days - but Chinese brand Nio is about to arrive with a unique proposition - a battery that can be swapped in minutes. If you don't like the idea of plugging in and waiting, could this be the answer?


  • Battery size: 100kWh
  • Miles per kWh: 3.3
  • E-Rating™: B

    Click here to find out more about our electric car Efficiency Rating.​

  • Max charge rate: 182 kW
  • Range: 329 miles

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    • Battery size: 100kWh
    • Miles per kWh: 3.3
    • E-Rating™: B

      Click here to find out more about our electric car Efficiency Rating.​

    • Max charge rate: 182 kW
    • Range: 329 miles

    Ginny Says

    “This is an interesting concept and Nio appears to be making some headway in Europe now. I like the idea of rapid battery swaps, but the impracticality of having to search for a Nio battery swap station will limit its appeal. And if that station is busy, the time advantage over charging will soon disappear.”

    Mike Says

    “This looks another decent large SUV from China. Nio's preference for lease and subscription customers is a clever one, because it offers a low-risk entry point for buyers. I can see the battery swap tech appealing to non-electric drivers, but it's not a feature that is likely to be adopted on a larger scale. ”

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    Is Nio available in the UK?

    Not just yet, but it’s coming. The Chinese brand has launched in a handful of European markets, and is likely to appear in Britain in late 2024 with the EL6 and a network of sales and service centres, along with its famous battery-swapping stations.


    Who owns Nio cars?

    It’s a private carmaker, not owned by a massive carmaker like that Chinese powerhouse Geely (which owns Volvo, Lotus and a whole raft of brands). Nio is not even 10 years old and was founded by William Li. Its HQ is in Shanghai, China, but it has bases all around the world – the cars are designed in Munich, Germany, and the R&D takes place in leafy Oxfordshire, UK.  


    How big is the Nio EL6?

    At 4,854mm long, the Nio EL6 is a tiny bit shorter than the Mercedes EQE SUV, but it’s also a bit wider at 1,955mm. Why’s that? Well, Nio’s engineers have had to make the EL6 a touch wider to allow the batteries to be easily removed during a battery swap. 


    How long does Nio battery swap take?

    Nio tells us a swap takes around four minutes, which is around the same time as it takes to fill a petrol car with a large fuel tank. And it’s all done by a robot – you don’t have to get your hands dirty.

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