Recently, CATL and Sinopec inked a cooperation framework agreement in Beijing. According to the agreement, both parties will commit to extensive and long-term strategic partnership in the hope of accomplishing a battery-swapping ecosystem across the whole nation, with no less than 500 battery swap stations complete in this year, and up to 10,000 ones in the long run.
Previously, CATL and Sinopec already established a solid cooperation in aspects like the construction and operation of integrated energy station, energy storage, energy products，new materials and technological innovation. Moving forward, the two companies will leverage their respective strengths to further expand collaboration in the battery swap sector.
At the ceremony, CAES and QIJI Energy – subsidiaries of CATL – signed Battery Swapping Business Cooperation Agreement with Sinopec Sales Co., Ltd. In the progress of “10,000 Battery Swap Stations Vision”, both parties will work together to create an integrated service network connecting “People, Vehicles, Energy, and Life,” which will provide standardized and scalable support for the achievement of China’s “dual-carbon” goals.
Both companies will leverage their respective advantages, in which Sinopec, with its nationwide gas station network and energy infrastructure capabilities, and CATL, with its R&D expertise in cutting-edge battery technology and battery swap system, will jointly drive the construction and operation of battery swap stations. Specifically, based on CATL’s Choco-Swap and QiJi battery swapping solutions, the two companies will cooperate to break through the range bottleneck for passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks, with an intention to establish a more efficient, convenient, and cost-effective energy replenishment network. CATL remains committed to creating value for consumers through technological innovation, ensuring everyone has access to high-quality batteries and a better driving experience in the era of smart vehicles.
“The trend toward full electrification in the automotive industry is becoming increasingly clear, and the market is calling for a more complete energy supply network. CATL hopes to make battery swap as convenient as refueling through this cooperation with Sinopec, a mission and vision shared by battery swap players.” said Yang Jun, CEO of CATL’s battery swapping arm CAES.
Regarding compatible battery-swap vehicle models, CAES based on the Choco-Swap solutions, has partnered with several mainstream automakers to launch models such as the Changan Oshan 520, Aion S, and FAW Hongqi EQM5. QiJi Energy, based on the QiJi battery swapping solutions, has worked with major truck manufacturers including Sinotruk, Jiefang, Foton, and DeepWay to co-launch over 30 models featuring chassis battery swapping solutions.
This cooperation marks a new stage in the systematic development of the battery swapping ecosystem. As leading players in the traditional energy and new energy sectors, Sinopec and CATL will jointly promote the construction of power and energy standardization, and build a nationwide integrated energy infrastructure, contributing a Chinese example to global energy transition efforts.
