TMTPOST — CATL has expanded its product offerings with the launch of new batteries for heavy-duty commercial vehicles under its Tectrans brand, building on its previous releases for the logistics and electric bus sectors.

The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery leader unveiled its Tectrans series for heavy-duty vehicles on Wednesday, offering four distinct battery versions: a supercharging model, a long-life version, a long-range variant, and a durable battery for construction machinery.

Tectrans, introduced by CATL in July, initially focused on logistics vehicles with two L-Series models, including one optimized for supercharging and another for long-range driving. In September, the company expanded its reach with the release of the Tectrans Bus Edition, tailored for electric buses.

The latest Tectrans series further broadens the brand’s presence in the heavy-duty vehicle market, a sector that is increasingly embracing electrification. During the launch event, CATL highlighted key challenges faced by the industry, including limited range, slow charging, and rapid battery degradation—issues that the new batteries aim to address.

CATL aims to redefine industry standards and enable pure electric heavy-duty vehicles to break through current limitations, advancing toward full-scenario applications, the company said.

The new Tectrans supercharging-enabled batteries can charge up to 70% in just 15 minutes, with a peak supercharging rate of 4 C, meaning the battery can theoretically be fully charged in 15 minutes.

These batteries also offer a long lifespan of up to 1.2 million kilometers, a maximum capacity of 600 kWh, and a range of up to 500 kilometers. In demanding applications like mine transportation and sludge mixing, the batteries can significantly reduce charging times and improve operational efficiency.

The long-life version of the Tectrans battery offers a lifespan of 15 years or 3 million kilometers, designed to withstand frequent charging cycles in high-energy transportation scenarios, such as long-distance and heavy-duty freight. This model also offers a range of 500 kilometers and supports battery swapping, making it versatile for various transportation tasks.

CATL claims that heavy-duty vehicles equipped with the Tectrans long-life battery are more cost-effective than traditional fuel vehicles. For example, a heavy truck covering 200,000 kilometers annually could save over 1 million yuan (approximately $138,000) over eight years with the Tectrans battery compared to a conventional fuel truck.

The long-range battery supports up to 1,000 kWh, providing a range of up to 800 kilometers, extending the operational radius of heavy-duty electric vehicles. With an energy density of 220 Wh/kg, the Tectrans long-range battery boasts the highest energy density in the industry.

CATL has also introduced a battery solution for construction machinery, allowing mining trucks to maintain high safety standards after 500,000 kilometers—four times the endurance of current industry benchmarks. This battery is already in mass production, being used in over 20 models from eight construction equipment manufacturers.

From 2020 to 2023, CATL led the domestic market for heavy-duty truck battery installations, securing a 30% market share in the construction machinery sector. As of October, CATL's installed power battery capacity reached 25.32 GWh, maintaining a leading 42.78% market share, according to the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA).

Electric heavy-duty trucks are generally divided into three categories: pure electric, fuel cell, and hybrid. From a sales perspective, pure electric trucks dominate the market.

Data shows that from January to May 2024, nearly 95% of electric heavy-duty trucks were pure electric, with more than 20,000 units sold. Despite this rapid adoption, the application scenarios for electric trucks remain limited compared to diesel and natural gas-powered vehicles.

Heavy-duty trucks serve various functions, including as tractors (for logistics, coal transport, etc.), dump trucks (for city waste, mining, etc.), cargo trucks (for refrigerated goods, daily necessities), and specialized vehicles (such as concrete mixers and pump trucks). According to Dongwu Securities, the most significant market segment for electric heavy-duty trucks is the tractor segment, which accounted for over 50% of total electric truck sales in 2023.

To propel electric heavy-duty trucks into mainstream applications, it’s crucial to broaden their use cases, making them competitive with traditional fuel-powered trucks. As the range of applications for electric trucks expands, the demand for high-capacity batteries will grow, as large batteries can provide longer ranges and reduce the frequency of recharging, making electric trucks more efficient.

CATL introduced four different versions of its Tectrans heavy-duty truck batteries to cater to diverse operational needs: Supercharging Version, Long-Life Version, Long-Range Version, and High-Intensity Version. Each version is tailored to specific operational challenges.

The Supercharging Version emphasizes fast recharging, with a peak charging capability of 4C, allowing the battery to charge up to 70% in just 15 minutes. In high-efficiency operations like mine transportation or construction sites, this version can significantly cut down charging time and improve overall productivity.

For example, using a 1C standard charge battery, a dump truck running 30 km per trip typically completes 5 rounds per day. However, with the Tectrans Supercharging Version, the truck can complete up to 7 rounds, boosting productivity.

The Long-Life Version is designed for heavy-duty, medium- and long-distance transport, where frequent recharging puts pressure on battery life. With a lifespan of 15 years or 3 million kilometers, it also supports battery swap modes, making it adaptable for various operational scenarios.

The Long-Range Version features a capacity of up to 1,000 kWh and a range of 800 km, ideal for long-haul transport such as express deliveries across provinces. The energy density of 220 Wh/kg improves the truck’s economic efficiency by enhancing its range while minimizing weight-related losses.

The High-Intensity Version is designed for use in construction machinery and can handle tough environments, such as mining trucks. It can operate for 500,000 km without leaking fluids, gases, or electricity, and features an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. It’s currently in mass production and is used in more than 20 models from eight construction equipment manufacturers.

As of September 2024, the market for pure electric and battery-swappable heavy-duty trucks has reached 2,515 MWh in installed capacity. CATL dominates the market, accounting for 67.67% of the market share with 1,702 MWh of installed capacity. Other players, including EVE Energy, CATL’s main competitor, and BYD, are also making significant strides but are still far behind in terms of market share.

The electric heavy-duty truck market is becoming increasingly competitive, with the key differentiators being energy efficiency, failure rates, and battery life. As the industry matures, the competition between battery manufacturers will intensify, making it essential for companies to innovate and meet the growing demand for efficient, high-performance solutions.

($1 = 7.2553 yuan)