Shanghai (ZXZC)- On April 18, CATL officially launched its battery swap service “EVOGO” in Xiamen, the first city to introduce this service, according to a post on CATL's WeChat account.

EVOGO battery swap station in Xiamen; photo credit: CATL

The first four EVOGO-branded fast battery swap stations deployed in the city are located in Siming, Huli, and Haicang districts. CATL expects the construction of 30 fast battery swap stations to be completed in Xiamen by the end of this year.

CATL launched in mid-January the battery swap service brand "EVOGO" through its wholly-owned subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology Ltd. (CAES).

The service brand is built on the basis of the "Modular Battery Swap Solution", which was announced at the same time. The solution consists of three products, namely, the battery block, the fast battery swap station, and an app.

The battery block is named “Choco-SEB (swapping electric block)”, which is a mass-produced battery specially developed for EV battery sharing. The new battery block has three advantages, namely, high energy density with compact size, flexible combination, and minimalist design.

According to CATL, the lowest monthly rent for a Choco-SEB is 399 yuan ($63). The rent will be dynamically adjusted in accordance with users’ service conditions.

Under the EVOGO brand, a standard fast battery swap station can house up to 48 Choco-SEBs and allows one-minute swap for a single battery pack, covering a small space comparable to three parking spots.

Moreover, CAES also provides a supporting app which allows connection among users, vehicles, stations and batteries, and offers relevant services as well.

Through a city partner plan, CAES will boost the construction of its battery swapping network and the promotion of “EVOGO family” vehicle models in Xiamen by teaming up with its partners.