CATL’s truck batteries boost fast-charging, longer range and livespan

CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery supplier, has expanded its Tectrans commercial vehicle battery system. The battery range now offers the choice between superfast charging, an ultra-long lifespan, or a long-range battery pack with up to 800 km range for commercial vehicles.

CATL wants to attack the commercial vehicle market with battery options for every type of road transport, from buses to long-range heavy electric trucks and even construction vehicles, using the Tectrans battery system.

After launching at the IAA Transportation 2024 in September, the battery expert has expanded its range with new battery types: the Bus Edition, the Superfast Charging Edition, and the Long Life Edition.

LFP batteries for buses

The CATL Tectrans Bus Edition features LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery chemistry, with a relatively high energy density of 175 Wh/kg – 22% better than CATL’s previous-gen bus battery. It is designed for maximum layout flexibility, low consumption, and an advanced thermal management system to make it usable even in extreme conditions.

70% charge in 15 minutes

The T Superfast Charging Edition battery can be charged to 70% in just 15 minutes, which CATL describes as “4C charging”, meaning the battery can be charged in just a quarter of an hour. This is ideal for transport operations looking to minimize downtime, even with heavy electric trucks, thanks to a maximum capacity of 600 kWh and a theoretical range of up to 500 kilometers. The battery life is estimated at up to 1.2 million kilometers.

15-year lifespan, up to 800 km of range

Finally, the CATL Tectrans T Long Life Edition doesn’t go for maximum charging speed but rather a longer lifespan of up to 15 years or 2.8 million km. This version, too, features a maximum range of 500 km for heavy-duty vehicles and is more resistant to frequent charging and high-consumption situations.

According to CATL, transport operators can expect a significant advantage in terms of TCO (total cost of ownership) without needing a new battery after eight years and lower running costs. A long-range version of the battery was also shown, with a capacity of up to 1,000 kWh and a maximum range of 800 km, thanks to an industry-leading energy density of 220 Wh/kg.