Nio has announced a new Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) plan for the Firefly that significantly reduces the upfront cost of the electric vehicle (EV) from its new sub-brand.
When the Firefly was launched in China on April 19 this year, the EV was priced at 119,800 yuan (about RM71k) for the Free (Zizai) variant, while the Luminous (Faguang) sold for 125,800 yuan (RM74k).
With the new battery rental subscription plan, both variants are cheaper by 40,000 yuan (RM24k) at 79,800 yuan (RM47k) and 85,800 yuan (RM51k) respectively. The monthly fee for the BaaS plan is 399 yuan (RM236). The idea of renting a battery to lower the initial purchase cost isn’t new among automakers, with Perodua set to offer the service with its first EV.
Both variants feature a 42.1-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that is good for CLTC-rated range of 420 km and will charge from 10-80% in 29 minutes with a DC input of 100 kW. The EV also supports AC charging at 7 kW and comes with a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system capable of delivering 3.68 kW.
The battery powers a rear electric motor rated at 143 PS (141 hp or 105 kW) and 200 Nm of torque, enabling a top speed of 150 km/h. The Firefly has a claimed electricity consumption of 10.9 kWh per 100 km.
In terms of dimensions, the Firefly measures 4,003 mm long, 1,781 mm wide, 1,557 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,615 mm. The compact size allows for a turning radius of just 4.7 metres while still able to accommodate up to five passengers. For storage, the frunk has a capacity of 92 litres, while the rear boot offers 335 litres, expandable to 1,253 litres with the second-row, 60:40 split-folding seats down.
The EV features front McPherson struts and a rear five-link setup, 18-inch wheels, LED exterior lighting, rain-sensing wipers, 256-colour ambient lighting, an air-cooled 50-watt wireless charger, 60- and 18-watt USB-C ports, 14 speakers with 7.1 Dolby Atmos and 640 watts of amplification, a powered tailgate, a powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, telematics, a 6-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen and a comprehensive ADAS suite.
The top-spec variant gets additional features such as a storage space under the passenger seat (5.4 litres) in addition to the standard 29-litre space under the rear seats, a powered front passenger seat as well as front seat ventilation and lumbar adjustment.
GALLERY: Nio Firefly at Auto Shanghai 2025
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I like the exterior, very unique and memorable, but the white interior?… Eewww….
BaaS is a good option.
In this case, battery lease removed 40,000rmb 41kWh purchase price, but lease at 399 rmb, very low interest yet peace of mind.
When Perodua propose selling EV without battery – “Stupid for selling EV without battery”
When mainland selling EV without battery – “Good option, can lower upfront cost. What a revolutionary business model”.