CATL is transforming EV ownership by allowing users to earn money through battery swapping during peak hours. Discover how it works here!
In a bold move to reshape the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, battery giant CATL recently unveiled an integrated ultra-fast charging and battery swapping network at its Tech Day in Beijing. The announcement introduces a paradigm shift: instead of just paying for energy, EV owners can now potentially earn money from their batteries.
Turn Your Battery Into a Profit Center
Starting in the second half of this year, users of CATL’s “Chocolate” battery swapping service for passenger cars can participate in a unique energy arbitrage program. During peak electricity price periods, users with fully charged batteries can swap them at CATL stations for partially charged ones.
The station essentially “buys” the high-value energy from the user’s battery, paying the difference in price. CATL estimates that this could generate a daily income of up to 40 yuan (approximately $6 USD) for the vehicle owner—enough to potentially cover the cost of the battery lease.
How it works in 100 seconds:
- A driver arrives at a station during peak hours with a full battery.
- A robotic arm replaces the full battery with a partially charged one in under two minutes.
- The user receives a payment based on the price difference between the high-value energy they provided and the lower-cost energy they received.
Maximum Efficiency: The Integrated Approach
CATL is integrating its Shenxing ultra-fast charging piles into all its “Chocolate” (passenger car) and “Qiji” (heavy-duty truck) swapping stations. This integrated model offers a significant leap in energy efficiency compared to traditional storage-based charging solutions.
Cutting Energy Loss
Traditional fast chargers often require energy to move from the grid to a storage system and then to the car, resulting in two stages of energy loss. CATL’s integrated solution streamlines this to a single conversion—from grid to swap-battery to vehicle.
This optimization reduces energy loss by more than 13 percentage points. In practical terms, for every 100 kWh drawn from the grid, CATL’s system delivers an additional 13 kWh to the vehicle, translating to an extra 65 to 120 kilometers of driving range depending on the vehicle’s efficiency.
The “Energy on Demand” Philosophy
To support this ecosystem, CATL introduced the Chocolate 26# replacement battery, featuring an 800V high-voltage architecture. While the initial version is 75 kWh, larger capacities for B- and C-segment vehicles are expected soon.
The core philosophy here is energy on demand. Rather than forcing owners to buy a massive, expensive battery that they only need for occasional long trips, users can use a smaller, efficient battery for daily commutes and swap to a larger one for road trips.
Furthermore, the leasing model provides users with a lifetime warranty and seamless upgrades, effectively eliminating two of the biggest fears in EV ownership: battery degradation and the plummeting resale value of used electric cars.
Scaling for the Future
CATL is moving aggressively to dominate the infrastructure landscape. Currently, the company operates 1,470 Chocolate swapping stations across 99 cities. The roadmap for the coming years is ambitious:
- By 2026: Reach 4,000 integrated stations across 190 cities, covering urban centers and major highway corridors.
- By 2028: Establish over 100,000 shared charging and swapping facilities.
This massive rollout is backed by partnerships with leading automotive manufacturers, including Changan, Chery, GAC, Seres, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and BAIC. With 11 automakers already on board, CATL is not just selling batteries—it is building the energy backbone of the future of transportation.