Nio has selected EVE Energy and Gotion High-Tech as contract manufacturers for its proprietary large cylindrical battery cells. The company expects to produce a very small batch of these cells by the end of the year.
The project began in 2021 with the formation of an internal R&D team. By 2022, the team had grown to over 400 people, with initial plans to launch an 800V high-voltage battery pack by 2024. In 2023, Nio announced a 40GWh production base in Hefei, but equipment procurement was later suspended due to financial constraints.
At the 2023 NIO Day, the company unveiled its 46105 large cylindrical battery design. It features a 900V architecture, an energy density of 292Wh/kg, a 120kWh capacity, and 5C fast-charging support. Although intended for the ET9, the model launched with square battery packs from CATL.
Nio has invested over ¥2 billion in battery R&D to date. The company is pursuing a hybrid strategy of internal design combined with external manufacturing. EVE Energy was chosen for its experience with BMW, while Gotion High-Tech offers local synergy in Hefei.
Despite these developments, large cylindrical batteries remain a niche segment in the automotive industry. Square battery cells continue to dominate the market, with only Tesla and BMW currently utilizing large cylindrical formats on a significant scale.
