Guangzhou-based battery-swapping technology provider Aulton has gained a strategic investment from SB Energy, SoftBank’s renewable energy subsidiary, the company said on its official WeChat account on Saturday, without revealing financial details.
Aulton, founded in 2000, allows electric vehicle owners to change their out-of-power batteries for full-capacity ones in three minutes, in a process as efficient as refueling. The empty batteries can be left at the station for slow recharging under constant temperature and humidity, which assures longer battery life.
The stations now support the EU 220, EU 260, EU 300 models made by BAIC BJEV, the new-energy vehicle unit of BAIC, and the A 37 model made by automaker GAC, Aulton’s app shows.
Aulton has built 120 battery-swap stations in cities including Beijing, Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Lanzhou, the company said on November 21, when announcing its Series A round financing from Nio Capital, the venture capital unit of EV maker Nio.
This article is part of KrASIA’s “China Brief” section, where KrASIA’s reporters will provide quick daily updates about the tech ecosystem in China.