Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), a leading Chinese power battery manufacturer, has unveiled new batteries under its commercial vehicle brand Tectrans, further broadening its product portfolio. Launched on November 25, the latest Tectrans series caters specifically to heavy-duty commercial vehicles and includes four versions: supercharging, long-life, long-range, and a durable option for construction machinery.
The Tectrans brand was initially introduced on July 4, when CATL rolled out two L-Series batteries targeting the logistics industry, featuring both supercharging and long-range capabilities. This was followed by the release of the Tectrans Bus Edition on September 14, designed as a tailored solution for the electric bus sector.
With the latest additions, Tectrans extends its reach into the heavy-duty commercial vehicle segment. As electrification accelerates in this sector, challenges such as limited range, slow charging, and rapid battery degradation have become prominent. At the launch event, CATL emphasized its commitment to redefining industry standards to enable pure electric heavy commercial vehicles to operate across diverse scenarios.
Key Features of the New Batteries:
Supercharging Version: Offers peak charging capability of 4 C, enabling the battery to reach 70% charge in just 15 minutes. This dramatically reduces charging times for electric heavy trucks in applications like mining and sludge transportation, enhancing operational efficiency.
Long-Life Version: With a lifespan of 15 years or 3 million kilometers, this battery addresses degradation issues from frequent charging and discharging in high-energy-demand scenarios, such as heavy-duty, medium- and long-distance transportation. It supports battery swapping and provides a maximum range of 500 kilometers.
Long-Range Version: Supports up to 1,000 kWh capacity, delivering a range of up to 800 kilometers. Its industry-leading energy density of 220 Wh/kg expands the service radius of vehicles.
Durable Version for Construction Machinery: Designed to maintain high safety standards after 500,000 kilometers, quadrupling the endurance compared to the industry norm of 100,000 kilometers. This battery is already in mass production and is used in over 20 models from eight construction machinery manufacturers.
CATL highlighted the economic benefits of its new batteries, noting that heavy-duty vehicles equipped with the Tectrans long-life battery can be more cost-effective than traditional fuel vehicles. For instance, a heavy truck covering 200,000 kilometers annually could save over RMB 1 million (approximately $138,000) over eight years compared to a conventional vehicle.
Industry Leadership:
From 2020 to 2023, CATL led domestic heavy-duty truck battery installations for four consecutive years, holding a 30% market share in the construction machinery sector.
According to the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA), in October, CATL’s power battery installed capacity reached 25.32 GWh, maintaining its leading position with a 42.78% market share.
Source: CnEV
