CATL has outlined a battery-swapping system for heavy trucks in China that aims to cut the time vehicles spend stopped for charging. Called Dual-Electric Range Extender, it combines a large, removable main battery with a smaller pack that stays aboard and can provide backup power when the main unit runs low. CATL says swapping the main battery at a dedicated station would take about five minutes, and estimates the approach could save Chinese operators 460,000 yuan (about €61,330) over three years. The company also says operators could rent the large battery rather than pay its full purchase cost upfront.
The underfloor main pack is offered in 432 kWh and 513 kWh versions. A permanently installed 77 kWh battery serves as the reserve, allowing the main pack to be used down to a reported 5% charge while providing a buffer to reach the next station. CATL’s QiJi heavy-vehicle swapping network uses two standardized formats: 260#, rated at 432 kWh for trucks with a 3.8-meter wheelbase, and 300#, rated at 513 kWh for a 4.2-meter wheelbase.
CATL targets 900 swap stations in China by the end of 2026, 2,000 in 2027 and 10,000 over the longer term. Separately, its Tectrans II range includes truck batteries tailored to different jobs, including an ultralight option and a version for construction trucks and dump trucks; CATL’s solutions are also reported to offer more than 600 km of range. The system’s prospects depend on station coverage and whether swapping and battery rental can compete with diesel. For now, the plan is focused on China, with expansion to Europe presented as a possibility only after it succeeds there.