CATL Begins Construction of Hong Kong’s First Battery Swap Station

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited has started construction of its first battery swap station in Hong Kong, expanding its battery swap business beyond mainland China.

The station, located on Ping Che Road in Fanling, New Territories, will be Hong Kong’s first dedicated battery swap station for passenger vehicles, according to a joint announcement made by CATL, FAW Hongqi, and Dragon Rise New Energy on January 13.

This marks a significant step in the development of new energy infrastructure in Hong Kong, with CATL aiming to address the city’s space limitations and growing demand for sustainable mobility solutions.

The new battery swap station will feature CATL’s Choco-SEB packs, introduced as part of the EVOGO brand launched by its subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES) in January 2022.

CATL’s battery swap solution, which aims to provide a quick and convenient alternative to traditional charging infrastructure, is set to enhance the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in Hong Kong.

The company recently updated its battery swap offering with two standardized Choco-SEB packs, named #20 and #25, similar to the gasoline types available in China. This is expected to help alleviate some of the region’s constraints, including limited land resources and inadequate charging stations.

In the partnership, Dragon Rise New Energy will handle land and construction matters, as well as oversee vehicle sales. FAW Hongqi’s electric vehicle, the E-QM5, will be one of the first models in Hong Kong to utilize CATL’s battery swap solution, serving as an electric cab in the city.

CATL’s long-term objective is to build a comprehensive new energy mobility network across Hong Kong and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, leveraging its Choco-SEB battery swap model. This partnership is expected to boost Hong Kong’s green mobility infrastructure while opening up new avenues for CATL’s international business expansion.

CATL’s latest achievement follows a recent announcement from SAIC Motor, which revealed plans to develop battery swap-enabled vehicles using CATL’s technology.