CATL's Choco-Swap station

Contemporary Orange (Xiamen) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a joint venture indirectly co-owned by CATL and Beijing Orange Technology Co., Ltd. (an affiliate of DiDi), has been established to focus on new energy vehicle (NEV) battery swapping infrastructure, electric vehicle charging infrastructure operation, and battery leasing services.

In January 2024, DiDi and CATL announced their collaboration to form a battery swapping joint venture, aiming to leverage their combined technological and operational strengths to provide efficient battery swapping services tailored for China's ride-hailing market. This partnership is just one aspect of their broader cooperation.

CATL has also formed a strategic alliance with Orange Energy, another subsidiary of DiDi, to foster collaboration in various new energy sectors, such as integrated energy storage and charging solutions. Orange Energy's diverse business portfolio includes internet-based refueling, smart charging, virtual power plants, and electricity trading.

Regarding CATL's battery swap network, the company has outlined ambitious plans. By 2025, it intends to establish 1,000 Choco-Swap stations and expand into Hong Kong and Macao. Looking further ahead, CATL envisions building 10,000 stations in collaboration with its partners and ultimately expanding to 30,000 stations as the battery swap ecosystem continues to grow.

To date, CATL has been actively collaborating with automakers like Changan Automobile, GAC Group, FAW Group, BAIC Group, and SAIC-GM-Wuling to construct the Choco-Swap Ecosystem. This ecosystem is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the adoption of electric vehicles in China and beyond.

by autonews