CATL has introduced a Dual-Electric Range Extender system for heavy-duty electric trucks. The solution combines a swappable main battery, available in 432 kWh or 513 kWh capacities, with a permanently installed 77 kWh reserve battery. This configuration allows the main battery to reach a depth of discharge exceeding 95 percent, as the reserve unit provides power when the primary battery drops to 5 percent.
The company has standardized its battery blocks into two sizes: the 260# block for vehicles with a 3.8-meter wheelbase and the 300# block for those with a 4.2-meter wheelbase. These units are compatible with CATL's QiJi swap station network, which the manufacturer claims can perform a battery swap in 5 minutes. The stations are designed for rapid deployment, requiring no excavation pits and taking 5 days to construct.
CATL plans to expand its QiJi network to 900 stations for heavy-duty trucks by the end of the year, with a target of 2,000 units by the end of next year and 10,000 in the long term. The company has already secured initial orders for 13,000 units from 14 partners, including major logistics providers such as SF Express, ZTO Express, and YTO Express.
To lower upfront costs, CATL offers the main battery through a flexible leasing model. The company is also adjusting its Battery-as-a-Service billing to charge for net energy consumed rather than discharged, a change it claims could reduce leasing costs by up to 20 percent. Additionally, CATL holds a nearly 25 percent stake in Qiyuan Green Power, a major operator of truck battery swap stations.
