Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and Octopus Energy have agreed to form a 50-50 joint venture to build Europe’s first heavy-truck battery swap network, with initial demonstration stations set to launch in the UK by 2027. The network will roll out along major highway corridors and key logistics ports, gradually expanding to Scotland and Wales, and is expected to include more than 30 swap stations by 2035.
Once fully operational, the network could support over 300,000 electric heavy trucks and attract upwards of £30 billion in private investment across Europe. CATL’s Qiji Energy swapping technology enables trucks to exchange a depleted battery for a fully charged unit in a matter of minutes, compared with nearly an hour required for current fast-charging systems. This rapid turnaround is designed to push electric-truck operating costs below those of diesel vehicles while also reducing upfront purchase costs by separating battery ownership from the truck itself.
Centralized battery management and the use of controlled, slower charging cycles further extend cell life, making the swap model attractive to fleet operators. Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy, noted that—even accounting for fluctuations in diesel prices—the per-kilometer cost of battery swapping will continue to decline year over year, positioning electric trucks as a cost-competitive alternative.
Ownership of the swap stations will rest with truck manufacturers and fleet managers, with governments expected to classify them as critical infrastructure. While battery swapping gained traction in China—driven by pioneers in the passenger-vehicle segment—the high capital cost of stations has limited its overseas expansion to date.
In its home market, CATL has aggressively grown its swap network, targeting 900 heavy-truck stations this year, up from around 305 last year. The company aims for 80% coverage of China’s core logistics routes by 2030. CATL’s founder and CEO has projected that by 2028, pure electric trucks will represent half of China’s heavy-truck market, aided by government goals for more than 1.6 million new energy heavy trucks on Chinese roads by 2030.
Source: CNEV Post
