CATL Unveils Game-Changing Battery Swap Solution for Heavy-Duty EVs
CATL, the global EV battery giant behind many of today’s top-selling electric vehicles, is now targeting a new frontier: the electrification of heavy-duty trucks. On May 18, 2025, CATL announced the launch of its standardized battery swap pack, dubbed 75#, specifically designed for large commercial vehicles.
This marks a significant milestone in the QIJI Energy project, an initiative launched in June 2023 to accelerate battery swap adoption in the heavy transport sector.
What Is the 75# Battery Pack?
The newly unveiled 75# battery block offers a modular, long-lifespan solution for heavy trucks, terminal tractors, and industrial equipment. This standardized format allows fleet operators to mix and match battery quantities to meet varying power needs.
According to Yang Jun, CEO of QIJI Energy (a CATL subsidiary), the 75# pack is now compatible with more than 30 battery swap-enabled heavy-duty vehicle models developed in collaboration with over a dozen manufacturers.
Nationwide Battery Swap Infrastructure by 2025
CATL’s ambitions go beyond just hardware. By the end of 2025, the company plans to build 300 battery swap stations exclusively for heavy trucks across 13 core logistics regions in China. The broader goal? A nationwide battery swap network across 16 major city clusters by 2030.
Each QIJI Energy swap station will feature 24 battery slots and offer compatibility with 95% of mainstream electric truck models. For areas where swap stations are unavailable, the 75# battery system also supports conventional plug-in charging, offering flexible charging options on the road.
Following in the Footsteps of Choco-SEB Packs
The 75# launch follows CATL’s successful rollout of Choco-SEB standardized battery packs (#20 and #25) for passenger EVs in December 2024. Much like fuel grades in traditional vehicles (e.g., 92, 95, 98 octane), these pack formats aim to simplify EV ownership by offering clear, universal charging solutions.
CATL’s Vision: 50% Electrification in Heavy Transport
Robin Zeng, Chairman and CEO of CATL, emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to transforming logistics:
“In the next three years, the heavy truck industry will undergo explosive growth. We project a 50% electrification rate globally, driven by the urgency for zero-emission logistics and lower transportation costs.”
By 2030, CATL envisions a future where battery swap, at-home charging, and public charging stations will each serve one-third of the electric vehicle market’s energy needs.
Why This Matters
The logistics sector has long been the “messy middle” of vehicle electrification—challenging to convert due to long ranges, high payloads, and downtime sensitivity. CATL’s universal battery swap model offers a scalable solution to those issues by:
- Reducing downtime for long-haul trucks
- Streamlining fleet operations with swappable energy
- Lowering emissions across supply chains
With CATL leading the charge, battery swapping may soon become a mainstream solution not just for consumers—but for commercial transport operators worldwide.
