CATL bets on battery swapping to speed electrification of heavy trucks

By Ju-min Park BEIJING, Oct 20 (Reuters) Chinese battery maker CATL unveiled on Tuesday a new generation of batteries for heavy-duty trucks and said it would expand its battery-swapping network, ​betting the technology can help overcome barriers to electrifying long-haul ‌freight. The world s largest battery maker said its Tianxing II platform includes lighter, thinner and chassis-mounted battery designs for different truck applications, while its Qiji swapping system can replace a truck battery in about five minutes. CATL aims to build 900 ‌heavy-truck ​swapping stations in China by the end ⁠of this year and 2,000 ⁠by 2027, with a longer-term goal of 10,000 stations, Yang Jun, head of CATL s battery-swapping business, said. The company said heavy-truck electrification globally remains below 10%, leaving substantial room for growth as ​governments seek to curb emissions from freight transport. The launch comes as battery makers and truck manufacturers race to extend driving range and