CATL builds 1325 battery swap stations in one year, plans 3000 more in 2026
CATL has announced that its 1,000th Chocolate battery swap station was completed in Nanchang, while the 300th Qiji trunk-line station was launched in Hangzhou. Over the past year, the company built 1,020 Chocolate stations and 305 Qiji stations, totaling 1,325 new battery swap facilities-far exceeding industry averages for deployment speed.
In 2026, CATL plans to build more than 3,000 Chocolate battery swap stations across over 140 cities and begin constructing a high-speed swap network. The long-term goal is to reach 30,000 stations nationwide. Qiji, CATL's heavy-truck battery swap brand, aims to build 900 stations next year and expand its coverage to a "five horizontal and five vertical" trunk-line layout. By 2030, the network will evolve into an "eight horizontal and ten vertical" configuration, covering 80% of China's trunk-line capacity.
The Chocolate battery swap system supports standardized 20# and 25# battery modules. Each module is available in lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium versions. The 20# lithium iron phosphate battery offers 42 kWh capacity and 400 km (about 249 miles) of range, while the ternary lithium version provides 52 kWh and 500 km (about 311 miles). The 25# modules offer 56 kWh and 500 km (311 miles) for lithium iron phosphate, and 70 kWh and 600 km (373 miles) for ternary lithium.
Monthly pricing starts at 369 yuan (about USD 52) for the 20# family package and 469 yuan (USD 66) for the unlimited mileage plan. The 25# family package is priced at 499 yuan (USD 70), with the unlimited plan at 599 yuan (USD 84). For drivers commuting up to 100 km (62 miles) daily, the family package offers a cost of just over 0.1 yuan per km-roughly 1.4 cents per mile.
Qiji's heavy-truck battery swap solution uses a 75# standardized battery block and supports over 95% of mainstream truck models. Swaps take just five minutes, and the system allows flexible separation of vehicle and battery ownership. Compared to diesel trucks, Qiji-equipped vehicles save 0.62 yuan (USD 0.09) per km, translating to 62,000 yuan (USD 8,700) in annual savings over 100,000 km (62,137 miles). Compared to LNG trucks, savings reach 0.2 yuan (USD 0.03) per km, or 20,000 yuan (USD 2,800) per year.
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) is a global leader in lithium-ion battery development and manufacturing, headquartered in Ningde, China. Founded in 2011, the company supplies EV batteries to major automakers including Tesla, BMW, Hyundai, and NIO. CATL is known for its innovations in energy density, fast charging, and battery swapping technologies. With a strong focus on sustainability and circular economy practices, CATL continues to expand its global footprint through strategic partnerships and advanced manufacturing facilities across Asia, Europe, and North America.
