CATL’s “10,000 Battery Swap Stations” Plan: Launch of Standardized Swap Blocks

2025-10-13 | Calvin

On December 18, during the Chocolate Battery Swap Ecosystem Conference, CATL’s Chairman and CEO, Robin Zeng, announced that the company has officially launched two standardized “Chocolate Swap Blocks,” comparable to 92# and 95# gasoline grades. These new models are named the 20# and 25# swap blocks.

According to CATL, both standard swap block models offer multiple energy options depending on their chemical composition. Each standard block comes in two battery versions—lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and ternary lithium. The 20# LFP version provides 42 kWh of power, supporting a range of 400 km, while its ternary version offers 52 kWh for a 500 km range. The 25# LFP version provides 56 kWh, achieving a 500 km range, and its ternary version delivers 70 kWh for up to 600 km. These two standardized swap blocks are designed for A0-class and A/B-class vehicles, respectively.

In terms of pricing, the 25# Unlimited Mileage Plan is priced at 599 yuan per month, with a family plan available at 499 yuan. The 20# Unlimited Mileage Plan costs 469 yuan per month, while its family plan is 369 yuan per month.

CATL has also laid out a clear roadmap for building its battery swap network. By 2025, the company plans to independently construct 1,000 Chocolate Battery Swap Stations and expand its operations into Hong Kong and Macau. In its mid-term strategy, CATL aims to partner with other companies to jointly build 10,000 swap stations. As the ecosystem matures, the total number of swap stations is expected to reach 30,000 through nationwide collaboration.

Each standardized swap station built by CATL can accommodate vehicles with wheelbases ranging from 2.55 meters to 3.1 meters and is equipped with 14 to 30 battery compartments.

Estimates suggest that with 30,000 swap stations, each housing 14 to 30 batteries, the total throughput capacity could reach 33.6 million kWh. Additionally, with these 30,000 stations serving around 20 million vehicles, the total throughput could exceed 1.12 billion kWh. These distributed energy resources could also be utilized to support and stabilize the power grid.