CATL (宁德时代), the No. 1 electric-vehicle battery corporations, has proposed a new kind of EV infrastructure model that combines ultra-fast charging and battery exchange (swap). Instead of charging electricity at a charging station, the model exchanges the battery itself, like an electric two-wheeler, while also laying out a plan to build an integrated system that can use both methods at one hub.
◇ Battery exchange like a two-wheeler… ultra-fast charging in one place
CATL unveiled the concept of an "ultra-fast charging and battery exchange integrated station (hereinafter, the station)" at Super Tech Day at 7 p.m. on the 21st (local time) at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. The station, which looks like a garage, provides ultra-fast charging and battery exchange at the same time. Users can choose the method they want based on driving conditions, time, and expense.
Battery exchange swaps a depleted battery for a fully charged one as a whole, allowing electricity to be replenished in 1–2 minutes. Users can select batteries of different capacities according to their driving plans at the time, and another feature is that the latest batteries can be used without replacing the car. In Korea, exchangeable batteries are currently applied in part mainly to electric two-wheelers, and there are no commercialization cases for passenger cars.
CATL began promoting the business in 2022 and is now working with 11 finished car makers, 18 brands, and 25 models, having built about 1,470 stations in a total of 99 cities. The company said the future EV charging structure will have conventional charging, ultra-fast charging, and battery exchange each coexisting with a one-third share, complementing one another.
◇ Cutting power losses and monetizing car batteries
The "Chocolate 26" battery exchange system CATL unveiled at the event is characterized by simultaneously considering energy efficiency and the burden on the power grid. According to the company, conventional storage-type ultra-fast charging incurs a total of two energy losses in the process of storing power in a storage device and then supplying it to the vehicle. In contrast, battery exchange transfers energy only once from the grid to the battery, reducing losses.
Yang Jun (杨峻), the general manager overseeing the battery exchange business, said, "This lowers power loss by 13 percentage points compared with storage-type ultra-fast charging. When 100 kWh is sent from the grid, 13 kWh more arrives (than with the same power charging)," adding, "That effectively allows an additional 60–120 km of driving."
CATL also proposed using batteries not merely as power sources but as "mobile energy assets." During peak power demand hours, users can return their EV batteries to the station or supply power to the grid and receive compensation. The company said users can earn additional revenue of several dozen yuan per day through this.
CATL plans to speed up building this infrastructure. Yang said, "By the end of 2026, we will build 4,000 stations, centered on 190 cities and expressways in China," adding, "We want to provide charging and exchange services as convenient as refueling for vehicles of any brand. Options for medium, large, and extra-large are ready. Users only need to choose comfortably."
However, battery exchange systems are still in the early stage and are currently being introduced on a limited basis in some regions and by some companies in China. Harmonizing with existing charger-centered infrastructure, standardizing battery specifications, and upfront investment expense are cited as challenges.