CATL has introduced a new battery for light commercial electric vehicles that the company says can charge from 20% to 80% in just 6 minutes and 48 seconds, while also announcing plans to significantly expand its charging and battery-swapping infrastructure across China.
The new Tectrans II Superfast Charging Edition is designed for logistics and commercial transport applications and features an 8C peak charging capability, which CATL says is the first of its kind for this vehicle segment.
Battery Targets Commercial Fleet Operators
According to CATL, a full battery recharge can be completed in approximately 8 minutes and 56 seconds, bringing charging times closer to conventional refueling stops for internal combustion vehicles.
The company said the battery was developed to address several common challenges facing commercial EV operators, including long charging times, battery degradation, and reduced charging performance in cold weather.
CATL offers the battery with a warranty of up to 10 years or one million kilometers, aiming to match the operational life of commercial vehicles while supporting stronger residual values.
Designed for Fast Charging and Long Life
CATL said it reduced the internal resistance of the battery cells by 50% compared with the industry average to minimize heat generation during rapid charging.
The company also redesigned the graphite structure of the anode at the atomic level to reduce active lithium loss and slow battery degradation.
According to CATL, the battery maintains most of its fast-charging capability even at -20°C, with charging times increasing by only about two and a half minutes compared with normal operating temperatures.
The Tectrans product family, previously known as Tianxing, was introduced in 2024 for commercial vehicles and has since expanded to include batteries for heavy-duty trucks, construction equipment, and light commercial vehicles, including sodium-ion variants.
Charging Network Expansion
Alongside the new battery, CATL announced expanded plans for a combined network of ultra-fast charging and battery-swapping stations serving both passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
The facilities are intended to support urban delivery fleets, regional freight transport, and cold-chain logistics.
The company now aims to deploy 4,000 charging and battery-swapping stations across approximately 190 Chinese cities by the end of 2026, increasing its previous target of 3,000 locations.
Earlier this month, CATL said it had already established 2,000 Choco battery-swapping stations for passenger and commercial vehicles.
New Safety Standards Take Effect
The latest product launch comes as China introduces stricter battery safety regulations that took effect on July 1.
Under the updated rules, manufacturers must demonstrate that traction batteries do not catch fire or explode following thermal runaway events and must meet additional fast-charging and safety testing requirements before entering the market.