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Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
China accelerates EV battery swapping with new tech from CATL
TDT | agencies China is not just leading the global electric vehicle (EV) market—it's poised to transform the way EVs are powered. Chinese automakers and battery giants are now pushing battery swapping technology to new heights. Changan Automobile has launched the first 1,000 units of its Oshan 520 sedan, primarily targeting taxi services. However, these vehicles mark a major technological leap as the first to feature CATL's innovative Choco-SEB swappable battery packs. These batteries can be exchanged in just 100 seconds at dedicated swap stations—an efficiency game-changer for EV users. Chongqing already hosts 34 such stations, and CATL plans to expand this network to 1,000 stations across 31 cities by 2025. The infrastructure is designed to support up to 822 swaps per day per station, offering a fast, convenient alternative to conventional charging. CATL, the world's largest EV battery manufacturer, is partnering with major automakers—including Nio, Chery, GAC, SAIC, FAW, and BAIC—to integrate this technology into upcoming models. Among the vehicles adopting the Choco-SEB system are the GAC Aion S, Hongqi E-QM5, SAIC Roewe D7, BAIC C66, Wuling Bingo, and SAIC's Maxus range. While ideal for commercial fleets and taxis, this technology also has significant potential for long-distance drivers. Battery swapping stations on highways could one day rival the convenience of traditional petrol stations, making EV ownership even more practical and appealing.
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Chinese EV industry pits battery swapping technology against ultra-fast charging
Efforts by the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) industry to reduce consumer anxiety about driving ranges have pitted battery swapping technology against ultra-fast charging capabilities, even though both save time for drivers. Advertisement 'Carmakers and consumers now have two options as they choose which kind of EVs to buy,' said Davis Zhang, a senior executive at Suzhou Hazardtex, a supplier of specialised batteries, in an interview last week. 'Each of the technologies has its own advantages and disadvantages, but they will coexist over a long period of time.' The battery swap model allows EV owners to exchange a spent pack for a fully charged one in just 100 seconds. And fast-charging technology gives a vehicle 400km of driving range in five minutes. CATL plans to build 1,000 stations to support battery swapping in China this year. At the end of 2024, Robin Zeng Yuqun, the company's founder and chairman, said CATL had secured subscription orders for 107,500 of its Choco-SEB swappable batteries from more than 30 companies. Advertisement Nio and CATL showed off their latest product offerings at the Auto Shanghai trade show, which ends on Friday. But they are grappling with BYD to attract visitors at the show. The world's largest EV builder – also a battery maker – had on display its Han L and Tang L vehicles that are supported by its Super e-Platform, which offers peak charging power of 1,000 kilowatts (kW) or 1 megawatt (MW). The Shenzhen-based company started deliveries of the two models last month. Battery swapping has the potential to save a car buyer as much as 40 per cent of the cost of owning a new EV – amounting to 40,000 to 50,000 yuan (US$6,876) – because they can rent batteries from the carmakers or other firms.
