CATL says Evogo battery swap will work with 80% of all pure EVs

China battery giant CATL has outlined some more of the details of its battery swap plans and has claimed it will work for 80% of all currently available electric vehicles, as long as they are built on a dedicated EV platform.

CATL’s step up to the battery-swapping plate is significant: also known as Chinese Amperex Technology Ltd, the company supplies batteries to EV makers Tesla and Nio, the latter of which has pioneered battery swapping in China.

Battery swapping has some advantages over recharging, perhaps the greatest of which is the ability to buy an EV without paying for the battery upfront. Instead, Nio owners can subscribe to a “battery-as-a-service” and use one of the nearly 800 battery swap stations in China, instead of going to a charging station.

Confirming rumours that the battery maker would enter the battery swapping game, the new plan from CATL – dubbed Evogo – will implement “block” based battery swapping that the company says will mean EV owners can choose to swap one to three blocks depending on how much near-instant range they require.

With the cute name of “Choco-SEB” (swapping electric block), each chocolate block-inspired module will offer around 200km range (although actual range achieved from each battery block will depend on driving style). The blocks use CATL’s cell-to-pack modules with an energy density of over 160Wh/kg, or 325Wh/L, and each Evogo station will have 48 blocks ready for on-demand swapping.

CATL also says the blocks will be compatible with every EV planned for release in the next three years. EV models that are electric versions of combustion engine cars – such as the Hyundai Kona and its Ioniq fastback stablemate, or likewise Kia’s e-Niro – would not be compatible.

What is not clear, though, is the extent of retro-fitting or redesign required for current models to be able to use battery swapping – obviously, auto manufacturers will need to get on board if they are to offer the system to new EV buyers.

For global markets outside China, however, there is no need to rush immediately towards this; CATL plans to commence operation of its Evogo service in 10 cities in China, and a timeline for this has not been clarified.