The heavy trucks are powered by CATL's lithium iron phosphate batteries, which support both high-power fast charging and quick battery swaps in 3-5 minutes.

(Image credit: CATL)

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) and Chinese heavy equipment maker Sany Heavy Industry put battery swap-enabled heavy trucks and dump trucks into service on February 22 in Ningde, Fujian, where the battery giant is headquartered.

The two have created a line to facilitate the operation of these heavy trucks, which is the first of its kind in China, said a press release issued today by CATL (SHE: 300750), without providing further details.

These heavy trucks and dump trucks are powered by CATL's high-capacity lithium iron phosphate batteries, which support both high-power fast charging and quick battery changes in 3-5 minutes, according to the release.

This can help eliminate the anxiety associated with charging time and range for heavy truck vehicles and can improve vehicle operating efficiency, according to CATL.

Heavy trucks are a significant contributor to carbon emissions, and their full electrification is an urgent priority, CATL said.

Users' biggest concerns about electric heavy trucks are slow charging, inconvenient charging, and operational inefficiency brought about by range anxiety, CATL said, adding that the current charging model cannot really solve the problem, so the battery swap model came into being.

In January this year, China's new energy heavy trucks sold 2,283 units, up 1,318 percent year-on-year, with a penetration rate of 7.5 percent, Shanghai Securities News said in a report last week, citing insurance registration data.

In addition to putting these heavy-duty vehicles into operation, CATL also announced that its subsidiary, Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES), signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation with a subsidiary of Fujian Expressway Group to form a joint venture.

The two will work together to build a battery swap network covering the highways of Fujian and expand businesses in neighboring provinces in due course to accelerate the electrification of vehicles, according to CATL.

CATL officially announced its battery swap brand EVOGO on January 18, and CAES is the owner of the brand.