CATL Plans Big Battery Swapping Push

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CATL has unveiled two standardized Choco-SEB battery packs and plans to launch one new automotive mannequin that makes use of the packs with companions in every of the following 10 quarters, in line with a report by CnEVPost. The Chinese language battery firm introduced the launch of standardized battery packs for passenger automobiles and unveiled aggressive infrastructure plans at a Choco-SEB (swapping electrical block) convention at its headquarters in Xiamen on December 18, 2024. The corporate launched EVOGO — its battery swap model — on January 18, 2022. The model is operated by a subsidiary, Modern Amperex Power Service Expertise.

Beforehand, CATL deliberate on utilizing small swappable battery packs so {that a} car might use a number of packs relying on its vary necessities. At as we speak’s occasion, the corporate made a big change to that idea, turning swappable battery packs right into a single pack {that a} typical car would use. The 2 new standardized Choco-SEB battery packs as we speak will likely be often called #20 and #25.

CATL Battery Swap Expertise

CATL will proceed to push for the standardization of swappable battery packs, with their core characteristic being the standardization of battery sizes, stated Robin Zeng, founder, chairman, and CEO of the battery maker. He believes that by 2030, battery swap, charging at dwelling, and charging at public charging stations will every fulfill one third of the wants of electrical automotive house owners. The #20 Choco-SEB pack is for A0-class EVs, whereas the #25 pack is for bigger A- and B-segment automobiles. Each batteries have lithium iron phosphate and lithium ternary choices.

For the #20 pack, the LFP battery has a capability of 42 kWh and offers a variety of about 400 kilometers. The pack primarily based on lithium nickel cobalt ternary chemistry has a 52 kWh capability and offers a variety of 500 kilometers. For the #25 battery pack, the pack primarily based on the LFP chemistry has a capability of 56 kWh and offers a variety of 500 kilometers. The pack primarily based on ternary chemistry has a capability of 70 kWh and may present a variety of 600 kilometers.

The CATL battery swap service adopts a battery as a service technique much like that pioneered by NIO, which permits the client to only purchase (or lease) the car physique and lease the battery. NIO permits prospects to buy automobiles that embrace the battery, which CATL can not do, because it doesn’t manufacture automobiles — but. The corporate has talked lately about developing an electric car platform of its personal that different firms might purchase to make use of as the idea for their very own EVs.

By way of pricing, prospects can lease the #20 LFP battery for RMB 369 ($51) per thirty days. That worth contains as much as 3000 km of driving. Or they will choose limitless mileage for RMB 469 ($64) per thirty days. For the #25 LFP pack, the value is RMB 499 ($68) per thirty days for as much as 3,000 kilometers of driving or RMB 599 ($82) per thirty days for limitless mileage. No costs for the ternary battery packs have been introduced as of but.

Together with these particulars, CATL introduced that it has signed subscription orders for 107,500 Choco-SEB batteries with greater than 30 firms, together with Changan Car and China FAW Group, and that each one its new battery applied sciences will likely be utilized in these packs sooner or later. It additionally says it has entered into partnerships with various automotive firms to collectively launch 10 fashions that utilizing the Choco-SEB battery packs. On November 22, Changan, CATL, and CAES held a signing ceremony for the battery swap program and showcased the Oshan 520 electrical sedan, a sub-brand of Oshan that helps battery swapping. On December 14, China FAW Group’s Hongqi model introduced that it’ll co-develop fashions utilizing Choco-SEB expertise with CATL.

CATL additionally unveiled formidable infrastructure plans, saying its battery swap stations will attain 1,000 subsequent 12 months, with a medium-term plan to construct 10,000 stations to help the enterprise. The primary 1,000 battery swap stations will likely be constructed by CAES, whereas the following 10,000 battery swap stations will likely be constructed by CAES and companions. CATL’s long-term aim is to achieve 30,000 battery swap stations. The one different firm that’s pursuing battery swapping expertise is NIOwhich has opened greater than 2,700 battery swap stations in China and has plans for no less than 5,000. It additionally has about 60 swap stations in northern Europe. Altering a battery utilizing a NIO swap station takes lower than 5 minutes.

Is Battery Swapping The Future?

“By 2030, battery swapping, home charging, and public charging stations will share the market,” Robin Zengthe CEO of CATL, predicted this week. In line with ABC Newshe appealed to company companions to work collectively to “build more convenient, more economical, and safer services for customers, promoting a brand new way of life.”

China auto market analyst Lei Xing instructed ABC Information he believes that swapping batteries can complement China’s charging community. “I don’t see it becoming mainstream, but I do see it becoming a key part of that infrastructure landscape,” he stated. Michael Davidson, a renewable power knowledgeable on the College of California, San Diego, stated he thinks that charging will dominate “and maybe there’ll be some battery swapping options mixed in there.”

Possibly so, however it’s protected to imagine that CATL has performed its homework and has motive to imagine loads of drivers will select the battery swap choice. For one factor, the price of renting the batteries is kind of modest when you think about it eliminates the price of electrical energy to cost them individually. For one more, it ensures drivers they’ll all the time have entry to the most recent battery expertise. Lastly, it eliminates considerations about battery degradation and having to pay to exchange a battery pack as soon as the manufacturing unit guarantee expires. These are some fairly main concerns in favor of battery swap expertise.

The idea is good for fleet automobiles — taxis, buses, and commercial trucks — which have a typical mannequin and infrequently journey mounted routes. CATL launched a small pilot mission two years in the past aimed toward taxis and can begin the rollout of its new battery swap service with fleets earlier than increasing to particular person drivers at a later date, stated Zhang Kai, the deputy president of CATL’s battery swapping subsidiary.

Swapping remains to be quicker than quick charging. An EVOGO swap stations can change a battery pack in 100 seconds, stated Yang Jun, the CEO of the subsidiary. Time is cash for taxi and truck drivers. Wang Wubing, a driver at China’s fashionable Didi ride-hailing service, stated at an EVOGO station within the metropolis of Xiamen that he swaps batteries to avoid wasting time so he can choose up extra prospects, however it’s dearer than charging. That appears just a little laborious to imagine on condition that the bigger LFP battery with limitless mileage rents for simply $82 a month. One would assume electrical energy for somebody who’s driving all day daily would value much more than that.

There’s additionally the truth that some folks reside in condos or residences the place they don’t have any choice to cost at dwelling. In such instances, battery swapping will help tremendously to make driving an EV comparably handy to driving a gas-powered automotive.