CATL Expands Electric Truck Battery Swapping Across China and Europe

Battery manufacturer CATL is expanding its battery-swapping infrastructure for electric heavy-duty trucks to lower operational costs and reduce range anxiety. Operating through its subsidiary Qiji Energy, the company aims to deploy 900 swapping stations across China by the end of 2026, with a long-term target of 2,000 stations by 2027.

The system allows trucks to replace depleted batteries in approximately five minutes, significantly faster than the hour required for plug-in charging. To further incentivize adoption, CATL utilizes a battery rental model that reduces the upfront purchase price of electric trucks by roughly 40%.

Beyond China, CATL has partnered with Octopus to introduce mega hubs in the United Kingdom next year. This partnership is part of a broader strategy to establish a network of more than 30 hubs across Europe by 2035. While the company builds on battery-swapping concepts previously commercialized by NIO for smaller vehicles, it still faces challenges regarding battery standardization across different manufacturers and the viability of the system for unpredictable long-haul routes.