CATL has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with courier company J&T Express, expanding its presence in China’s heavy-duty truck battery-swapping market through the deployment of battery-swapping solutions for more than 5,000 electric trucks.
The agreement marks another step in CATL’s strategy to accelerate the electrification of commercial transport and expand the adoption of its Qiji Energy battery-swapping platform.
Battery Swapping for Logistics Fleets
Under the partnership, CATL will supply J&T Express with a complete battery-swapping solution, including standardized swappable battery packs, battery swap station equipment, and operation and maintenance services for the company’s heavy-duty electric truck fleet.
According to CATL, the battery-swapping system enables trucks to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged units in approximately three to five minutes, significantly reducing downtime compared with conventional charging while improving fleet utilization.
The companies will also collaborate on broader fleet electrification initiatives covering new energy transport equipment, logistics automation, and low-carbon operations.
CATL said both companies believe battery swapping is particularly well suited to trunk-line logistics, where vehicle availability and operational efficiency are critical. Faster battery replacement can reduce energy costs over the long term while improving transport productivity.
Expanding Beyond Heavy Trucks
The cooperation will extend beyond heavy-duty vehicles to include light-duty electric logistics trucks, battery-electric warehouse forklifts, and electrification across logistics operations ranging from long-haul freight and urban distribution to warehouse handling.
J&T Express said it has already deployed more than 1,000 autonomous logistics vehicles, making vehicle electrification one of the partnership’s initial focus areas.
The companies also plan to work together on logistics park infrastructure. CATL will provide battery energy storage systems designed to optimize electricity consumption by storing energy during off-peak hours and supplying power during periods of higher demand, helping reduce operating costs.
Strengthening CATL’s Battery Swap Strategy
The agreement further strengthens CATL’s position in China’s emerging heavy-duty truck battery-swapping sector.
The company introduced its Qiji Energy battery-swapping platform for heavy-duty trucks in 2023, followed by the launch of its standardized #75 battery swap pack for commercial vehicles in 2024.
CATL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robin Zeng has previously said he expects rapid growth in the sector, forecasting that electric trucks could account for 50% of the heavy-duty truck market within the next three years.
The latest agreement follows a similar partnership signed with STO Express earlier this year, under which the companies agreed to accelerate the electrification of logistics fleets and expand charging and battery-swapping infrastructure across China.