Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has introduced its Tectrans II light commercial superfast charging battery, designed for logistics and distribution vehicles. The new battery achieves 80% state of charge in 6 minutes and 48 seconds and reaches full capacity in 8 minutes and 56 seconds, delivering refueling times comparable to traditional gasoline vehicles.
Rated at an 8C peak charging capability, the battery’s internal resistance is roughly half the industry average, which minimizes heat buildup during rapid charging. CATL reports that atomic-level interface restructuring of graphite particles reduces active lithium loss and helps slow degradation over time. To address cold-weather performance, the cell requires an additional 2 minutes and 30 seconds to reach 80% charge at –20°C, ensuring faster turnaround in low-temperature environments.
The Tectrans II battery comes with a 10-year or 1 million kilometer warranty, aligning battery lifespan with vehicle service life and potentially improving the resale value of used commercial vehicles. CATL highlights that the extended warranty and rapid charging capabilities overcome key challenges in the light commercial electric vehicle segment, including slow charging, capacity fade, and suboptimal performance in winter conditions.
Alongside the battery, CATL has launched the Choco swap station, compatible with both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. These stations will feature customized superfast charging units tailored for light commercial applications. CATL plans to deploy 4,000 swap stations across nearly 190 cities in China by the end of the year, reducing driver downtime for charging or battery swapping.
The Tectrans brand was first unveiled in July 2024, with subsequent expansions into heavy commercial and construction machinery applications. Earlier this year, CATL introduced Tectrans II variants, including a sodium-ion low-temperature edition retaining 90% capacity at –40°C and a superfast charging version capable of charging from 20% to 80% in 30 minutes at –15°C. Multiple battery swap options have also been offered under the series.
In a related development, CATL will supply battery swap systems and operational support for over 5,000 heavy-duty trucks operated by J&T Express, further extending its logistics electrification solutions.
Source: CNEV Post
