CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, announced it will fully enter the battery swapping market in China starting in 2025.
According to AP, the idea behind battery swapping is to recharge vehicles quickly, similar to how conventional cars are refueled with gasoline.
Instead of waiting for batteries to recharge, the old ones are swapped for a new battery pack at a swapping station.
CATL, based in China, unveiled plans to open 1,000 swapping stations next year across the country, including in Hong Kong and Macao, with a long-term goal of building 10,000 stations in partnership with other companies.
High Competitiveness
If CATL achieves this goal, it could rival Nio, a Chinese electric car brand with 10 years of experience, which has already opened over 2,700 stations and plans to launch at least 5,000 more.
According to AP, there is nothing on this scale anywhere else in the world, though Nio operates about 60 swapping stations in northern Europe.
In China, such a massive investment is feasible because government support has made the world’s largest automotive market highly electric and has positioned the country as a leader in electric vehicle technology.
“By 2030, battery swapping, home charging, and public charging stations will share the market,” predicted Robin Zeng, the CEO of CATL, during a high-profile presentation in Fujian Province, located in southeastern China and home to CATL.
The executive called on corporate partners to collaborate and “build more convenient, cost-effective, and safe services for customers, promoting a new way of life.”
Battery swapping faces challenges. It requires the standardization of battery packs so that swapping stations can handle them, and most electric vehicles currently have their own customized configurations.
