High operational costs, significant emissions, and increasing restrictions on road access have posed major challenges for diesel heavy trucks in China, prompting innovation in the sector.

A next-generation battery-swapping ecosystem aimed at achieving 50 percent electric penetration within three years presents a solution for decarbonizing freight transport.

Battery manufacturer CATL has launched the '#75 standardized battery model' along with a comprehensive chassis-based swapping solution, which is designed to deliver the lowest lifecycle cost per tonne-kilometer and ensure industry-leading safety standards.

The standardized battery model specifically targets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, addressing key practical issues associated with both traditional diesel vehicles and standard electric trucks.

Yang Jun, CEO of CATL's Qiji Energy, noted that the bottom-mounted battery design lowers the vehicle's center of gravity, allows for cab-rearward configurations, and increases cargo space by an additional 5 to 7 percent.

Utilizing this battery-swapping solution could lead to significant savings for operators, with data indicating that trucks traveling 100,000 kilometers annually could save 0.62 yuan per kilometer compared to diesel vehicles, translating to an additional annual income of over 60,000 yuan (approximately 8,350 U.S. dollars) per vehicle.

Evidence of cost efficiencies and emissions control has been gathered from practical applications.

In Shandong Province, for example, the battery swap station operated by Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group, which supports bauxite transportation, reported an annual battery swap volume exceeding 18 million kilowatt-hours, yielding maintenance savings of 4 million yuan for a fleet of 200 battery-swapping heavy trucks.

Adding further momentum to this initiative, Shanxi Province has introduced China's first local standard targeting chassis-based battery swap stations for new energy heavy trucks, set to take effect on July 10. In 2024, the heavy-duty truck sector experienced significant advancements with increased energy density and range of power batteries, alongside an expanding electric heavy-duty truck market that saw total sales reach 82,000 units — a 140 percent year-on-year increase — and a penetration rate surpassing 10 percent.

From January to March 2025, the number of new energy heavy trucks sold in China reached 30,476, with battery-swapping models constituting 32.39 percent of sales.

This growth trajectory of new energy heavy trucks is essential for China's low-carbon development efforts, addressing the fact that road transport accounted for 85 percent of total carbon emissions from the transportation sector in 2024. Heavy-duty freight trucks, despite making up only 3 percent of the overall vehicle fleet, generated approximately 43 percent of road transport carbon emissions.

The importance of electrifying heavy trucks is underscored by governmental initiatives; in 2020, battery swap stations were included in the scope of China's new infrastructure development strategy by the State Council.

CATL has announced plans to establish 300 battery swap stations across 13 key regions in China by 2025.

Looking ahead, CATL envisions the establishment of a nationwide green battery swap network covering 150,000 kilometers by 2030, alongside 16 major city cluster networks, ultimately supporting significant reductions in costs and emissions within China’s heavy-duty trucking sector.