The energy supplier ENBW enters into a "large-scale partnership" with the electric car manufacturer Nio from China.
The group, which is almost entirely in public hands, announced this on Thursday.
According to this, Nio customers should be able to exchange their batteries at up to 20 ENBW fast charging parks.
Gustave parts
Business correspondent in Stuttgart.
Follow I follow
Nio is considered a competitor to premium manufacturers such as Mercedes, BMW or Audi and is known for its exchange concept.
The empty battery of the electric cars should be replaced with a charged one within around five minutes at the stations.
The approach means that the cars get their energy back more quickly and, as the press release emphasizes, no “typical peaks in the power grid” are caused.
ENBW is owned by an association of Upper Swabian districts and the state of Baden-Württemberg, each with a stake of almost 47 percent.
According to its own statements, the group operates Germany's largest fast charging network and invests more than 100 million euros a year in the charging infrastructure.
Head of Sales Timo Sillober called the cooperation "a strong signal for the market".
Both companies are “big drivers of the mobility revolution”.
Nio's battery change is an "exciting approach".
Nio is one of a number of Chinese automakers ramping up their efforts to enter the European market.
The message does not mention that Nio comes from China.
It is referred to as an "international company".