CATL Reveals Ambitious Battery Swap Network Plans for China
Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has unveiled its plan to significantly expand its battery swapping network across China over the next three years. By 2027, the company aims to establish 3,000 battery swapping stations, with the ultimate goal of reaching 10,000 stations.
Since introducing its Evogo battery swap solution in 2022 and launching initial locations, CATL is now setting clear targets for expanding its network. Speaking at the 2024 World Power Battery Conference in Yibin, China, CATL's Chief Technology Officer, Gao Huan, announced the company's aim to achieve 10,000 stations in the near future.
The rollout will follow a phased approach with annual milestones. CATL plans to install 500 new stations across 50 cities by 2025. By 2026, the goal is to have 1,500 stations operating in 70 cities, and by 2027, CATL intends to have added 3,000 more stations to its network.
Currently, CATL operates around 2,500 active battery-swapping stations in China. When it launched Evogo in 2022, the company declared its ambition to open its service to all automakers and build the world's largest battery-swapping network within two to three years. Since then, CATL has implemented battery swap services in several cities, including Xiamen, Fuzhou, Guiyang, and Hefei, with Xiamen boasting the largest number of stations, totaling 12.
Battery-swapping technology has been gaining traction in Asia, with companies like Gogoro expanding its scooter battery swap business in China in 2022 and Nio integrating its swap stations with the national grid. The technology is also seeing wider adoption globally, with Nio establishing battery swap stations in Europe, a pilot for swappable batteries in Fuso eCanter trucks in Kyoto, and Kaufland Romania setting up swap stations. Additionally, African electric motorcycle maker Spiro is installing battery swapping stations in Nigeria.
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