CATL, the Chinese battery manufacturer, has announced ambitious plans to enter the fast-charging station business, with the goal of building “the world’s largest fast-charging network” in China. The company aims to achieve this by constructing 10,000 super-fast charging stations in 100 Chinese cities by the end of next year, marking a significant expansion into the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure sector.
To realize this vision, CATL has partnered with Star Charge, a leading Chinese charging network operator, to collaborate on research and development, co-branding of high-performance charging stations, and the development of a comprehensive charging network. The partnership aims to provide an all-in-one charging solution that includes identification, management, charging, inspection, maintenance, billing, and payment services, catering to the needs of EV and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners.
Star Charge, known as a unicorn company for smart energy solutions in Asia and a major charging station operator in China, brings its expertise in charging, discharging, and energy storage equipment to the partnership. The collaboration will leverage the technological strengths and market resources of both companies to promote the development of charging infrastructure and service innovations, particularly in super-fast charging, while enhancing battery and vehicle safety through the development and application of integrated battery charging and inspection technologies.
This move marks CATL’s first major foray into the charging station business, despite its involvement in various projects related to charging infrastructure, including recent collaborations with Tesla. Star Charge, on the other hand, has been expanding its corporate partnerships across different sectors, including a deal with eVTOL manufacturer Lilium and charging networks in China and Vietnam.
CATL’s expansion into the fast-charging station business aligns with its strategy of advancing electric mobility by offering technologically impressive battery products. These include plans for commercial solid-state battery production in 2027 and the recent introduction of an LFP battery at Auto China capable of achieving a 1,000 km range.
