CATL and Octopus Energy Launch Swaptopus Battery-Swapping Network

CATL and UK-based energy company Octopus Energy have officially announced a joint venture project named "Swaptopus," aiming to build a battery-swapping network for commercial trucks across Europe. First unveiled in June at Octopus Energy's Energy Tech Summit, the Swaptopus initiative has now progressed from concept to implementation following the launch of the next-generation commercial EV battery system — TECTRANS II — at the IAA Transportation exhibition in Hanover, Germany.

According to CATL's official technical documentation for TECTRANS II, the battery system focuses on three core improvements: (1) Higher energy density — achieving a gravimetric energy density of 170 Wh/kg, approximately 13% above the industry average, enabling an additional payload capacity of ~0.6 tons at the same battery capacity; (2) Longer range and faster energy replenishment — supporting up to 1,000 km of range with megawatt-level fast charging, achieving 80% state-of-charge in just 25 minutes; and (3) Higher system efficiency — featuring the world's first full-tab low-impedance design, delivering a round-trip efficiency of 96%, significantly reducing charging losses and increasing usable daily energy output.

Zhu Lingbo, CTO of CATL's Global Business Unit, stated: "The electrification of commercial vehicles will span more than a decade. With deep technological expertise and long-term commitment, CATL is committed to being the most reliable partner for global customers and for the full electrification of freight transportation."

CATL has also signed a memorandum of understanding with DHL Group and partnered with ecosystem players including Xiaomi-affiliated Quibo Energy and FleetBoost to jointly advance decarbonization in European road freight. Notably, FleetBoost's "FleetBooster" mobile charging and energy storage trailer — integrated with CATL battery technology — offers flexible compatibility across vehicle types and operational scenarios. Li Ping, Executive Director of CATL's overseas business Quattroporte, emphasized that this collaboration represents a holistic solution "driven by real-world logistics needs and integrating vehicles, charging, energy storage, battery swapping, and full-lifecycle services."

For DHL, this initiative marks a critical step toward achieving its net-zero emissions goal for logistics operations by 2050.