CATL bets on battery swapping to speed electrification of heavy trucks

By Ju-min Park

BEIJING, Oct 20 (Reuters) - ‌Chinese battery ​maker CATL ​unveiled on Tuesday a new generation of batteries for heavy-duty trucks and said it would expand its battery-swapping network, betting the ‌technology can help overcome barriers to electrifying long-haul freight.

The world's largest ⁠battery maker said its Tianxing II platform includes lighter, thinner and chassis-mounted battery designs for different ‌truck applications, while its Qiji ‌swapping system can replace a truck battery in about five minutes.

CATL aims to build 900 heavy-truck swapping stations in China by the end of this ​year and 2,000 by 2027, with a longer-term goal of 10,000 stations, Yang Jun, head of CATL's battery-swapping business, said.

The company said heavy-truck electrification ⁠globally remains below 10%, leaving substantial room for growth as governments seek to curb emissions from freight transport.

The ​launch comes as battery makers and truck manufacturers race to extend driving range and cut charging times. However, high vehicle ​costs, the weight of large battery packs and ‌limited availability of megawatt-capable chargers remain obstacles to wider use of electric trucks on long-haul routes.

Gao Huan, chief technology officer ⁠for CATL's China passenger and commercial vehicle businesses, said battery swapping was a more suitable solution for heavy trucks than pursuing ever-faster charging speeds.

"For heavy trucks, battery swapping is ⁠the only solution for pursuing ultimate energy-replenishment efficiency," Gao said.

Higher charging currents generate more heat ​and energy losses, particularly as truck battery packs become larger, Gao said.

CATL said its long-range Tianxing II version has a 760-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a range of more than 600 ‌km(373 miles). CATL also said it had developed new standardised battery-swap blocks, which it said reduce component numbers by 52% ‌and lower costs by 15% from its existing products.

In September, CATL signed a preliminary ⁠agreement with DHL Group to ‌develop "green freight corridors" in Europe. ​The companies will work with vehicle manufacturers on electric trucks for logistics operations, CATL said earlier.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by ‌Louise Heavens)

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