CATL Expands Battery Range for Heavy-Duty Trucks and Buses

The battery manufacturer launched its TECTRANS battery system for the commercial transport sector at IAA Transportation.

October 8, 2024

John Kendall

The TECTRANS – T battery system for heavy-duty trucks comes in two versions: one for “superfast charging” and another for longer life. (CATL)

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.) completed the launch of its TECTRANS battery system for the commercial transport sector at IAA Transportation, which took place in September in Hanover, Germany. CATL added its heavy-duty truck and bus/coach battery ranges to the light-truck range that the company launched in China in July 2024.

The battery targeting the bus and coach segments is more focused on high energy density. (CATL)

For heavy-duty trucks, CATL offers two alternatives: the TECTRANS - T Superfast Charging Edition and the TECTRANS - T Long Life Edition. As the name suggests, the Superfast Charging Edition is designed to offer rapid charging capability for operators needing to recharge during a duty cycle. CATL quotes a 4C peak charging rate, which would permit a charge to 70% in 15 minutes.

The Long Life Edition is designed for an operating life of up to 15 years or 1.74 million miles (2.8 million km). Both variants are designed to offer an operating range of 310 miles (500 km) for all truck operations from short haul to long distance.

For bus and coach operations, CATL has launched the CATL TECTRANS - Bus Edition. CATL claims an energy density of 175 Wh/kg, said to be the highest for LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry used in bus applications.

CATL claims that the battery thermal management system in the T Superfast Charging Edition can reduce internal temperature disparity by 50%. The company credits this to the design of the flow channel system, which achieves precise control over various thermal zones.

CATL also offers a battery geared toward light-duty commercial vehicles. (CATL)

For the bus and coach battery, CATL uses a high-energy, high-press density cathode design, which the company says significantly improves energy density. A U-shaped seal and zero-draft angle are said to bring a 22% increase in volumetric energy density compared with the previous generation. Other features of the bus and coach battery include an electrolyte that features an additive molecular design and precise film forming capability, which results in highly stable interfaces, significantly improving cell service life.

The long service life of the heavy-truck batteries is the result of various features. One is a modified surface of the anode materials to improve reactivity and further suppress side reactions. This is said to facilitate the transmission of lithium ions, helping to extend battery life by 20% or more. Modifications to the cathode materials include integrating high-structural-stability active materials with lithium-rich materials, improving energy density and cycle stability.

When asked about the battery chemistry, Akin Li, executive president of CATL overseas business, told SAE Media that the same lithium polymer chemistry has been used as previously. “For buses, we are more focused on high energy density and for trucks it’s more on long service life, so we promote a long lifecycle.”

CATL is committed to sustainable practices throughout the battery lifecycle, Akin Li, executive president of CATL overseas business, said at IAA Transportation. (CATL)

CATL also is committed to sustainable practices throughout the battery lifecycle, Li said during his IAA presentation. The company plans to reach net zero in battery manufacturing operations by 2025 and across the battery supply chain by 2035. CATL thus far has achieved carbon neutrality in nine of its factories and has established seven major recycling industry hubs.

“Our subsidiary Brunp Recycling has ensured a circular economy for our products,” Li said. “With a core metal recycling rate of over 99.6%, we can process 270,000 tons of used batteries annually. Soon, it will no longer be a dream to produce batteries entirely from recycled materials, eliminating the need for new mining.”