What does NIO's first charging pile benefit mean?
4 Answers
NIO's first charging pile benefit: includes installation, no cost for simple wiring within 30 meters, includes 30 meters of waterproof cable, national standard galvanized steel pipe or PVC waterproof pipe, ABB leakage protector, waterproof switch box; installation is carried out by NIO's original factory construction; three-year original factory warranty from the date of installation completion. Additional information: 1. Lifetime free remote charging benefit: This benefit has a major premise, which is that the number of charging times per year cannot exceed 12. Remote charging means that beyond 200 kilometers from the city where the NIO car license is applied for, you can choose free charging or battery swapping in a remote location. If you use NIO's dedicated charging pile for charging or go to a battery swap station for swapping, the cost will be borne by NIO. If you use a public charging pile for charging, you need to pay first, but NIO will refund the equivalent cost in the form of points in the app. 2. Lifetime free battery swapping benefit: (1) If the owner needs to install a home charging pile, NIO will give the owner a charging pile for free and waive the installation fee, but the length of the charging pile cable cannot exceed 30m, and any excess will be at the owner's expense. Under this premise, the owner's monthly battery swapping times will change from six times per month to four times per month. (2) If the owner does not want a charging pile, the monthly battery swapping times will remain six times. In either of the above cases, if the owner continues to swap batteries after the monthly quota is used up, they will have to pay; if the monthly battery swapping times are not used up, they will be cleared at the end of the month and cannot be carried over to the next month.
As an EV enthusiast who frequently follows the electric vehicle scene, I’ve noticed that NIO’s first charging pile benefit is essentially a generous gift for new owners. When purchasing a brand-new NIO vehicle, the manufacturer includes a home charging pile with installation. Before 2023, you basically didn’t even have to pay for the installation fee, and the charging pile was a fast-charging model—either 7kW or 11kW. However, starting in 2024, the policy has been scaled back: while the charging pile is still provided, installation material costs exceeding 30 meters will need to be covered by the owner. In short, you don’t have to spend extra money on buying a charging pile, saving you thousands, and you can charge comfortably at home. Don’t forget to confirm the benefit in the app before taking delivery—a professional team will come to survey and install it for you.
I checked NIO's official website, and the first charging pile benefit is the complimentary home charging pile and basic installation service when purchasing a car. Note that the basic installation service includes free materials like wires and PVC pipes within 30 meters, with an additional charge of 45 yuan per meter for any excess. The charging pile itself is free, and the common 7kW model is valued at 7,500 yuan. Before installation, their engineers will assess the parking space's electrical conditions, which may require upgrading the meter or wiring. The policy has been scaled back compared to earlier versions, such as the previous 11kW pile now possibly being replaced with a 7kW one. However, overall it's still a good deal, as it addresses the biggest pain point of home charging.
When I first picked up the NIO ET5, the salesperson explained in detail: the first charging pile benefit includes a 7kW DC pile worth 7,500 yuan and survey & installation services. The key is the survey part—they need to check the distance from the residential power distribution room and the cable routing path. Beyond 30 meters, it costs an extra 50 yuan per meter. I ended up exceeding by 15 meters, costing 750 yuan. Installation requires a separate application to the grid for a 220V meter (380V is not approved), and the whole process took three days. The new policy now is that cars with the 2024 version infotainment system only get the pile for free without covering installation fees—early adopters got to enjoy the benefits sooner. Actual charging speed tests show about 50 km per hour.
