CATL targets 2,000 battery-swap stations for heavy trucks by 2027

CATL is betting battery swapping can remove a major obstacle to electrifying long-haul trucks. Its Tianxing II platform and Qiji system can replace a truck battery in about five minutes, avoiding long charging stops for vehicles with very large packs.

CATL aims for 900 heavy-truck stations in China by the end of 2026 and 2,000 by 2027, with a longer-term goal of 10,000. Its long-range version has a 760-kilowatt-hour pack and range above 600 kilometres; new swap blocks are designed to reduce components and cost.

The approach addresses charging time, battery weight and limited megawatt-capable chargers. Adoption will still depend on vehicle cost, route density, interoperability and whether fleets can use a network beyond CATL’s ecosystem.

For fleet operators, swapping can preserve vehicle utilisation by separating energy replenishment from the truck itself. The model nevertheless requires compatible packs, predictable station uptime and enough traffic on each route to justify the network.

For fleet operators, swapping can preserve utilisation by separating energy replenishment from the truck itself. The model requires compatible packs, predictable station uptime and enough traffic on each route to justify the network.

Image: CATL official website.

Sources

• Reuters report