CATL inaugurates its first rapid battery swapping stations

1, 2 or 3 modules: customers choose based on their needs.

What if, instead of plugging in the vehicle to recharge, we directly replaced the empty battery with a full one to save time? This solution is gaining some popularity in the small electric two-wheeler world. However, it struggles to convince in the automotive industry, where batteries are larger and much more difficult to handle.

Yet, some believe that the principle of exchangeable batteries could also be relevant for cars. After Nio, it is CATL, one of the largest battery suppliers, that is adopting it, with a new service called EVOGO.

CATL has just launched four fast battery exchange stations in Xiamen. The Chinese giant plans to continue its efforts to increase the number of stations to 30 on the island by the end of the year. Once this goal is achieved, the network will be dense enough so that every driver in the region can find a station within a 3 km radius.

200 km of range per module

The CATL service operates with a specific battery called Choco-SEB. The name refers to the shape of the module, similar to a chocolate bar. A block has a capacity of 26.5 kWh and theoretically provides a range of about 200 km.

Customers wanting more range can rent three batteries. The rental cost for a Choco-SEB block is set at 399 yuan per month (roughly 55 euros). It will be “adjusted automatically based on the user’s different energy consumption levels”, explains CATL.

According to the Chinese giant, 80% of current EV platforms are already compatible with Choco-SEB batteries. For now, only the electric minivan Bestune NAT offers the service, but CATL assures that more models will be launched soon.

Read also: Gogoro introduces solid and exchangeable batteries for scooters