CATL drives China EV battery network expansion with 1,000 units

More than a decade ago, Elon Musk previewed innovative battery-swapping technology for electric vehicles that could serve as a compelling alternative to charging. While Tesla later abandoned plans to introduce battery swapping, Chinese companies have taken the idea and put it into practice, establishing thousands of swapping stations across the country. The industry is now set to grow further thanks to leading battery manufacturer CATL.

Electric vehicle startup Nio has built the largest battery-swapping network among automakers and currently operates more than 2,600 charging stations in China alone. Geely also has hundreds of its own battery swapping stations in operation and has collaborated with Nio on battery standards, swapping technology and the expansion of the swapping station network.

Read: Nio’s fourth-generation battery swap station shows Tesla missed opportunity

Earlier this week, Yang Jun, CEO of CATL’s battery swap brand EVOGO, revealed that the battery maker has co-developed 10 new electric vehicles with automakers that use its battery swap technology. The first electric vehicle to support the new system, called “choco-swap,” is expected to be launched later this month, with other vehicles to follow.

CATL plans to build more than 1,000 power swap stations in China by 2025 and will recruit partners to build more power swap stations. Reuters noted that vehicles compatible with the CATL system will be offered with two different sizes of battery packs, with subscription fees starting at 369 yuan ($51) per month.

Company chairman Robin Zeng said battery swapping stations will use as much green energy as possible and predicted that by 2030, battery swapping will account for about one-third of all electric vehicle “power-up” solutions, alongside home charging and public charging. device together. Yang added that up to a third of China’s gas stations could be replaced by these exchange stations.

Several brands are working with CATL to adopt its battery replacement standards. These include AIWAYS, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën and SAIC-GM-Wuling Motors.