Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and logistics operator Digital Sustainable Transport Shenzhen (DST) have launched China’s first standardized light truck battery swap ecosystem, with an initial fleet now operating in urban logistics. Known as Choco-swap, the model completes battery exchanges in just 120 seconds.
Over an eight-year life cycle, Choco-swap light trucks can save more than 2,000 hours of refueling time, and their energy replenishment cost is about half that of comparable fuel-powered trucks, according to CATL. The modular swap stations accommodate both passenger vehicles and trucks with wheelbases ranging from 2.7 to 3.75 meters, supporting CATL’s 25# and 35# battery modules and enabling interoperability across vehicle types.
Currently, 31 light-truck swap stations have been deployed in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. CATL plans to increase that number to 140 stations by the end of this year, focusing on high-speed trunk lines and key logistics distribution hubs. Together with its subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES) and DST, CATL aims to have 5,000 standardized battery-swap light trucks in operation in the region by the end of 2026. This will form China’s largest urban distribution battery swap cluster, with a view to expanding the model nationwide.
The launch aligns with CATL’s broader battery swap strategy. The company expects to have more than 3,000 passenger vehicle and light truck swap stations by the end of 2026, ultimately targeting a network of 30,000 stations. In the heavy-duty sector, CATL has also partnered with STO Express to electrify trunk logistics routes, achieving energy cost savings of 0.8 yuan per kilometer on the 400-kilometer Shanghai–Ningbo corridor. By 2026, its Qiji Energy business plans to establish 900 heavy-truck swap stations. CATL has additionally signed a taxi battery swap network planning agreement with Guangzhou Public Transport Group and is reportedly considering an investment in Chinese AI startup DeepSeek.
Source: China EV Post
