Commencement of Southeast Asia's Initial AI-Enhanced Battery-Swapping Facility, Overseen by U Power
In a significant stride towards global expansion, U Power Limited, a Nasdaq-listed company, has inaugurated Southeast Asia's first operational AI-integrated battery-swapping station in Phuket Island, Thailand. This marks the latest development in U Power's business and a significant milestone in expanding their global footprint.
The Thailand Station, the first deployment of smart battery-swapping stations under U Power's joint venture with SUSCO Public Company Limited, is strategically located to serve electric taxis and ride-hailing fleets 24/7. The station, designed to withstand Phuket's tropical climate, is weather-resistant and equipped with zero-carbon battery-swapping technology integrated into U Power’s Battery-bank system.
Key technical features of the Phuket station include U Power’s proprietary UOTTA™ battery swapping system, which incorporates AI-assisted alignment and supports high-frequency, fully unmanned operations compatible with multiple EV models, including those designed for future Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving. The entire battery swap process takes only a few minutes, enabling scalable, efficient energy replenishment crucial for autonomous robotaxi fleets and other high-utilization EV applications.
U Power's approach leverages fast, safe, and autonomous battery swapping to fill the gap traditional charging cannot meet in high-frequency, time-sensitive urban mobility scenarios. The company aims to position its AI-enabled battery-swapping ecosystem as a replicable model across ASEAN and other regions, addressing the critical challenge of “driverless energy replenishment” to support the scalability of autonomous electric mobility services globally.
Strategically, U Power is expanding globally via partnerships and frameworks that integrate vehicles, stations, cloud management, and token incentives. Notable collaborations include a joint venture with SUSCO Public Company Limited in Thailand, partnerships with Beijing Foton focused on electric heavy vehicles, and planned deployments in Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, Europe, and South America.
In Singapore, U Power has launched its "ESP Model" aiming to deploy 5,000 swappable EVs and a corresponding number of UOTTATM stations, and convert 300 existing MG EP taxis into swappable versions. The first UOTTATM smart swapping station in Hong Kong opened in June in Kwai Chung, with a three-phase plan to build 55 stations to serve taxis, buses, and even ferries. In Macau, U Power has agreed to facilitate the deployment of UOTTA battery-swapping stations and sales of compatible EVs, starting with approximately 600 four-wheeled and 5,000 two-wheeled compatible battery-swapping vehicles.
Moreover, U Power has signed an agreement with Beijing Foton to promote battery-swapping compatible electric heavy trucks, buses, and vans in Southeast Asia, South America, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR markets. The company also established the joint venture ELMO with the Portuguese Taxi Association in Europe.
EV drivers can earn battery-tokens through swapping activities at the Thailand Station, further incentivizing the use of electric vehicles. Johnny Lee, CEO and Chairman of U Power, commented that the Thailand Station is a significant milestone in expanding U Power's global footprint and a pivotal advancement in their joint venture with SUSCO.
U Power's latest developments in Thailand demonstrate their commitment to the global expansion of AI-integrated battery-swapping stations, supporting the broader electrification and automation trends in transportation across multiple continents. The company aims to build a comprehensive battery-swapping ecosystem that delivers smart, reliable, and zero-carbon energy solutions for energy grids and transportation systems.
In a future where autonomous vehicles become commonplace, U Power's Thailand Station serves as a beacon of what's possible: a future where energy replenishment is fast, efficient, and sustainable.
- U Power Limited, a Nasdaq-listed company, has inaugurated Southeast Asia's first operational AI-integrated battery-swapping station in Phuket Island, Thailand, marking a significant stride in expanding their global footprint in the industry.
- This Thailand Station, under U Power’s joint venture with SUSCO Public Company Limited, is equipped with zero-carbon battery-swapping technology, designed to withstand Phuket's tropical climate and serve electric taxis and ride-hailing fleets 24/7.
- Key technical features of the Phuket station include U Power’s proprietary UOTTA™ battery swapping system, which supports high-frequency, fully unmanned operations and is compatible with multiple EV models, including future Level 4 autonomous driving vehicles.
- U Power aims to position its AI-enabled battery-swapping ecosystem as a replicable model across ASEAN and other regions, addressing the challenge of "driverless energy replenishment" to support the scalability of autonomous electric mobility services globally.
- Strategic collaborations include a joint venture with SUSCO in Thailand, partnerships with Beijing Foton, planned deployments in Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, Europe, and South America, and the joint venture ELMO with the Portuguese Taxi Association in Europe.
- With the Thailand Station, EV drivers can earn battery-tokens through swapping activities, further incentivizing the use of electric vehicles, and demonstrating U Power's commitment to a sustainable, AI-integrated future of energy and transportation systems.
