CATL has introduced a dual-battery system for heavy-duty trucks, featuring a swappable main battery and a 77 kWh on-board range-extension unit. This architecture allows the main battery's depth of discharge to increase from 70% to over 95%, enabling trucks to operate until the main unit reaches less than 5% charge.
The company also launched the 260# and 300# standardized swappable batteries with capacities of 432 kWh and 513 kWh. These complement the existing 75# model. The updated Qiji swapping stations can complete a battery replacement in 5 minutes, with construction costs reduced by 10% and deployment times as short as 5 days.
CATL updated its battery-as-a-service billing model to charge for net energy consumed rather than discharged. This change reduces per-kWh rental costs by up to 20%. The company aims to operate 900 swap stations by the end of 2026, reaching 2,000 by 2027, with a long-term goal of 10,000 stations.
At the launch event, CATL secured agreements covering 13,000 vehicles, including orders from SF Holding and China Postal Express & Logistics. According to CPCA data, new energy heavy-duty trucks reached 50% market penetration in China in September, compared to 29% a year prior.
