CATL to build 1,000 'Chocolate' battery swap stations in 2025

Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese battery giant CATL held the "Chocolate" (name in translation) battery swap ecosystem conference on December 18, CATL founder, chairman, and CEO Zeng Yuqin announced that by 2030, battery swapping, home charging, and public charging stations will equally share the market.  

CATL plans to build 1,000 self-operated "Chocolate" battery swap stations by 2025 and expand into Hong Kong and Macao. In collaboration with partners, the company aims to establish a network of 10,000 stations, ultimately growing the battery swap ecosystem to 30,000 stations.

Up to now, CATL has signed contracts for over 100,000 units of batteries with 31 companies and launched 10 battery-swap-compatible vehicle models with partners including Changan Auto, GAC Group , BAIC Group, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and FAW Group. The collaborative models will be rolled out starting next year.

CATL introduced two standardized Choco-SEB (swapping electric blocks), named 20# and 25#, designed to offer personalized power needs akin to gasoline options like 92-octane and 95-octane. These blocks will come in lithium iron phosphate and ternary versions. Subscription fees start at 369 yuan/month for the 20# family package and 469 yuan/month for the unlimited travel package. Meanwhile, the 25# battery is priced at 499 yuan/month for the family package and 599 yuan/month for the unlimited travel package.  

With a swapping time of just 100 seconds and a 1.6C fast-charging capability, these blocks aim to enhance convenience, battery life, and safety while reducing costs and environmental impact. CATL envisions its battery-swapping technology as an essential pillar of China's sustainable transportation future.