The first CATL Chocolate Battery Swap Station operates in WND. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The first Chocolate Battery Swap Station in Jiangsu, jointly built by CATL and State Grid EV Service, has started operation in Wuxi National Hi-Tech District (WND). This marks the debut of the new energy service solution in the province and a milestone in the expansion of battery swapping infrastructure.

Compact in size – roughly the same as a standard shipping container – the station allows drivers to swap batteries without leaving their vehicles. By simply issuing a command on their smartphone, the automated system replaces the battery from underneath the car in just 100 seconds, faster than refueling a conventional gasoline vehicle.

The battery swap station is about the size of a standard shipping container. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

CATL's Chocolate Battery Swap system is designed to be highly compatible, supporting vehicles with wheelbases from 2.55 to 3.1 meters. Each station houses between 14 and 30 battery slots, with a maximum daily service capacity of 822 swaps. The station offers No 20 and No 25 standard swap modules, comparable to 92 and 95 octane gasoline.

The service is available for both commercial fleets such as ride-hailing and taxis, as well as private car owners. Currently, more than 20 EV models from manufacturers including FAW, Changan, GAC, BAIC, SAIC, and Chery are supported.

Following this first installation, Wuxi will add five more swap stations next month, with the total expected to exceed 30 by year's end. CATL aims to build more than 140 Chocolate Battery Swap Stations across Jiangsu, including in Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou, before the end of the year. By the end of next year, the network will cover all prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu, with over 300 stations in operation.