Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is ramping up its push into clean tech with plans to scale its mobile EV charging robot subsidiary CharGo, aiming to capture 20% of China’s EV charging market and expand internationally by 2026.
The announcement comes as CATL concluded its €4.1 billion Hong Kong IPO on Tuesday, further fueling the company’s transition from a battery supplier to an integrated energy solutions provider. At the center of this strategy is CharGo, established last year to provide autonomous charging robots in areas where traditional charging infrastructure is limited or inaccessible.
CharGo’s mobile robots, which can be booked via smartphone, are designed to deliver on-demand EV charging without requiring fixed installations. CEO Kevin Xu said in Chinese media that the aim is to “support EV uptake and help build a closed-loop energy ecosystem.”
So far, CharGo has deployed more than 100 robots in pilot programs across China. The company plans to roll out between 5,000 and 15,000 units across 100 Chinese cities within two years. Overseas expansion is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, focusing on Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
According to internal projections cited by the South China Morning Post, mobile charging could account for up to 20% of China’s EV charging market by 2030, equivalent to 50 billion yuan ($6.9 billion).
While CATL remains the world’s top supplier of EV batteries, it is increasingly investing downstream to broaden its portfolio. This includes interests in automakers, battery-swapping firms—such as a planned takeover of Nio’s battery unit—grid operators, and low-carbon infrastructure.
CharGo is seen as a key element in this diversification strategy. “We see mobile charging as an essential part of the evolving EV landscape, especially in dense urban environments,” Xu said.
Source: Techinasia