Nio's Firefly gets a 60 kWh battery, and owners can upgrade by swap

Nio's small-car brand Firefly has added a bigger battery to its only model, and, unusually, it is offering it to people who already own the car. According to CnEVPost, the Firefly is now available with a 60 kWh pack alongside the original 42 kWh one, lifting its range on China's CLTC test cycle from 420 km to 560 km, about a third more.

Different chemistry, same box

The two packs use different cells. The 42 kWh battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP), while the new 60 kWh battery uses ternary lithium cells, the nickel-rich family that includes NMC. Firefly says the larger pack has the same housing, mounting points and locking mechanism, so neither size nor kerb weight changes, and acceleration stays at 7.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. If you are wondering how the two chemistries differ in daily use, our LFP vs NMC explainer covers range, lifespan and winter behaviour.

Prices for new buyers

The 60 kWh version costs 17,000 yuan more than the 42 kWh car when bought outright, so prices start at 136,800 yuan (about $20,400) and run to 150,300 yuan for the top Halo Edition. Under Nio's battery-as-a-service (BaaS) plan, where you rent the battery, the car still starts at 79,800 yuan, but the monthly fee rises from 399 to 599 yuan.

Upgrades for current owners

Because Firefly cars can now use Nio's fifth-generation swap stations, existing owners can move to the bigger pack through a battery swap:

• Bought outright: a one-off 17,000 yuan price difference, available at least one year after the purchase invoice date.
• Battery rental: a 3,000 yuan service fee, then 599 yuan a month. A limited-time coupon cuts the fee to 2,000 yuan for eligible first owners who ordered before 23 October and upgrade by the end of 2027.

Our take

Battery upgrades are one of the few places where swapping, rather than plugging in, has a clear advantage. Most EV owners are stuck with the range they bought; Firefly owners can now buy more later. Firefly is sold in China and a few export markets such as Thailand, and the prices and upgrade terms above are for China. For another take on affordable small EVs with fast-charging tricks, see BYD's new second-generation Seagull. Whatever you drive, our EV battery care guide explains how to keep any pack healthy.