China: CATL reports 1,000 battery swap stations for passenger cars

CATL has achieved a significant milestone: in October 2025, the company reported operating 700 battery swap stations for passenger cars. Just two months later, this number has surpassed 1,000. With this achievement, CATL has met its long-standing goal of deploying 1,000 stations in China by the end of the year. The pace of expansion is set to accelerate further, with CATL aiming to establish over 2,500 battery swap stations across more than 120 Chinese cities by the end of 2026.

An increasing proportion of these stations will be built in collaboration with partners. CATL previously announced that the first 1,000 stations would be constructed by its subsidiary, Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES), while stations 1,001 to 10,000 would be developed in partnership with external organisations. Long-term plans include establishing 30,000 locations, with expansion into Europe also on the horizon.

Depending on the station, between 14 and 30 batteries are currently available, divided into types #20 and #25 for passenger car stations, featuring LFP and NMC cell chemistries. As a reminder: in December 2024, CATL introduced two standardised battery packs as part of its Choco-SEB system. These are available in two fixed sizes: the 20# pack is designed for small electric vehicles with a wheelbase of between 2.2 and 2.3 metres, while the 25# pack is intended for vehicles with a wheelbase of up to 2.9 metres. SEB stands for ‘Swapping Electric Blocks,’ and the name ‘Choco’ is inspired by the appearance of a chocolate bar with its individual ‘blocks’.

In addition to the two versions mentioned above, there is also a battery pack called 75# for electric trucks, which is a 171 kWh block featuring LFP cells. This battery type is now available at 305 swap stations in China, installed by CATL’s subsidiary Qiji Energy. According to Car News China, citing company statements, the stations are compatible with over 95 per cent of common truck models in China, “allowing different brands of vehicles to complete battery swaps in approximately five minutes.” Up to three battery blocks of 171 kWh each can be installed, enabling a maximum capacity of 513 kWh.

By 2030, Qiji Energy plans to establish a nationwide battery swap network for trucks, covering approximately 180,000 kilometres and encompassing 80 per cent of China’s truck transport routes and 16 major city clusters. Recently, Qiji Energy launched the first truck route equipped with battery swap stations along the Sichuan-Chongqing-Hubei section of the expressway between Shanghai and Chengdu. The route spans around 1,250 kilometres.

pandaily.com, carnewschina.com