CATL has introduced its next-generation Tectrans II commercial vehicle battery solution in Germany, expanding its presence in the global commercial vehicle market. The Chinese battery maker unveiled the system at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover on September 14, with a focus on range, charging speed, and operating cost requirements for long-haul transport.
According to CATL, the heavy-duty truck version of Tectrans II can deliver up to 1,000 kilometers of range in its highest-capacity configuration and can charge from 0% to 80% in 25 minutes using megawatt-level fast charging. The battery system is built on a modular platform that allows different energy capacity and payload requirements to be addressed by changing the number of standardized battery packs.
The platform is compatible with both e-axle and central-drive architectures and supports both charging and battery swapping. CATL said standardizing battery pack dimensions, electrical interfaces, and communication protocols would allow new and existing vehicle models to adopt future battery upgrades without major platform changes.
The company said the modular approach could shorten vehicle development cycles by 50% and reduce research and development costs by 60% to 70%. CATL also said the battery has a gravimetric energy density of 170 Wh/kg, about 13% above the industry average, and that vehicles with the same battery capacity could carry about 0.6 tons of additional payload.
The system is designed with a 96% system round-trip efficiency and is intended for a service life of 12 years and 1.5 million kilometers with 70% capacity retention. Beyond heavy-duty trucks, Tectrans II will also be used for medium-duty trucks and buses in applications such as long-haul transport, ports, mines, urban delivery, and passenger transport.
At the event, CATL also signed a memorandum of understanding with DHL Group to develop green freight corridors across Europe. The agreement extends their battery supply partnership into vehicle development and operation, with both companies planning to use DHL’s logistics network and transport needs to develop purpose-built electric vehicles and launch pilot deployments.
CATL said the German launch builds on its broader commercial vehicle battery strategy. The company introduced the Tectrans brand in July 2024 and later expanded it into buses and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. In 2026, it also added Tectrans II products for light commercial vehicles in China.
Source: CnEVPost
