CAR Inc., a car rental company, has been acquired by CATL as a strategic partner for their battery swap system.
CATL and CAR Collaborate to Expand Battery Swap Stations for Electric Vehicles in China
The electric vehicle (EV) industry in China is set to receive a significant boost with the partnership between Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) and CAR Inc. This collaboration aims to accelerate the growth of battery swap stations for EVs in China by jointly building a large-scale battery swap network focused on the car rental industry [1][2].
Key elements of the partnership include the deployment of EV models supporting CATL’s Choco-SEB battery swap technology. This covers economy to business-class vehicles (A0 to B segment), providing diverse mobility solutions for short/long-term rentals and ride-hailing services [1][2].
CAR Inc’s extensive offline outlets and parking lot infrastructure across China will be leveraged to build and expand the battery swap station network rapidly [1]. Additionally, CATL’s subsidiary CAES is developing a battery health monitoring platform to ensure real-time battery safety and stable driving range, essential for the reliability of battery swapping [1][2].
Financial support from CMB Leasing (a subsidiary of China Merchants Bank) will facilitate the commercial scale and asset operation of battery swapping in car rentals [1][2]. This collaboration intends to create a comprehensive full-chain e-mobility ecosystem that promotes sustainable, flexible energy replenishment and boosts EV adoption through convenient battery swap services [2].
CAR, China's largest direct-operated car rental platform, has over 2,000 locations in the country that can be utilized for setting up battery swap stations. The stations will operate on green energy from photovoltaic plants.
Yu Hongfei, Chairman of CAR, stated they will work closely with all parties to promote the development of battery swapping for alternative drive vehicles. CAR recently entered a partnership with BYD, further expanding its presence in the EV market.
The partnership between CATL and CAR plans to launch a pilot program this year, with the aim of reaching 1,000 battery swap stations by the end of the year. CATL has already built 400 battery swap stations for EVs in China and has partnered with several manufacturers like BAIC, Changan, GAC, Hongqi, SAIC, and Wuling to integrate its Choco-SEB system into new EV models [1][2].
The information for this article is sourced from cnevpost.com and zuche.com (Chinese). CATL and CAR's collaboration marks a significant step towards a more sustainable and efficient EV ecosystem in China.
[1] CATL partners with CAR to acquire 100,000 vehicles equipped with its battery swap system. (2022, May 25). cnevpost.com. Retrieved from https://cnevpost.com/2022/05/25/catl-partners-with-car-to-acquire-100000-vehicles-equipped-with-its-battery-swap-system/
[2] CATL and CAR to build large-scale battery swap network for car rentals in China. (2022, May 25). zuche.com. Retrieved from https://www.zuche.com/news/catl-car-battery-swap-network/
- The collaboration between CATL and CAR covers various sectors of the industry, focusing on the car rental business and the automotive segment, with a target to establish a comprehensive e-mobility ecosystem.
- By leveraging CAR's extensive infrastructure and adopting CATL's advanced battery swap technology, the partnership aims to finance and establish a large-scale battery swap network in China,utilizing green energy from photovoltaic plants.
- To ensure the safety and stability of the battery swapping process, CATL's subsidiary CAES is working on a battery health monitoring platform, while financial support from CMB Leasing will facilitate the commercial scale and asset operation of battery swapping in car rentals.
