(Yicai) Dec. 19 -- Battery swapping will become one of the major charging methods for new energy vehicles, according to the founder of Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology.

Battery swapping, home charging, and public charging will each account for one-third of the total NEV charging volume in China by 2030, Robin Zeng said at the CATL Chocolate Battery Swapping Ecosystem Conference in China’s southeastern Xiamen yesterday.

CATL will continue to promote the standardization of battery swapping, Zeng noted, adding that the most important thing is to standardize the battery size.

The Ningde-based company plans to build 1,000 self-operated battery swap stations next year and the following 10,000 with its ecosystem partners, and ultimately reach a total of 30,000 across the country.

Once the number of battery swap stations in China reaches 30,000 to 40,000, the offered services should be almost as convenient as going to traditional gas stations, Zeng predicted.

There are 100,000 gas stations in China, and battery swap stations will be between 30,000 and 40,000 in the future, making it convenient for drivers to use battery swap services.

At the conference yesterday, CATL also unveiled two standardized Choco-SEB, swapping electric blocks resembling a chocolate bar that can be used both in passenger and commercial vehicles.

The No. 20 Choco-SEB will be equipped on Class-A0 electric vehicles, according to Yang Jun, chief executive officer of CATL’s battery swapping unit Evogo. It will come in the lithium-iron phosphate and ternary lithium editions, which will have ranges of 400 kilometers and 500 km, respectively, Yang added.

The No. 25 Choco-SEB will be equipped on Class-A and Class-B EVs, Yang said, adding that it will also come in the LFP and ternary lithium versions, with ranges of 500 km and 600 km, respectively.

China classifies car models in A, B, C, and D classes based on the wheelbase length. A-class models, which include A00, A0, and A classes, are small cars, B-class models are mid-sized cars, C-class models are high-end autos, and D-class ones are luxury vehicles.

The unlimited battery swapping subscription for the LFP editions of No. 20 and No. 25 Choco-SEBs will cost CNY469 and CNY599 (USD64 and USD82) a month, respectively. Meanwhile, the monthly fee for the 3,000-km range subscription will be CNY369 for the No. 20 LFP and CNY499 for the No. 25 LFP.

Car owners can subscribe to the service or renew their subscriptions on Chinese e-commerce platform JD.Com, Yang explained.

CATL has co-developed 10 EVs that support Choco-SEB battery swapping with automakers, the company unveiled yesterday. These models will gradually hit the market from this month.

Evogo also joined hands with over 30 partners over about 100,000 Choco-SEB supply deals yesterday.

CATL and Chinese NEV startup Nio are the two industry leaders actively advancing the application of battery swapping as they are expanding their ecosystem networks.

BAIC Group, Changan Automobile, GAC Group, FAW Group’s Hongqi luxury brand, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and SAIC Maxus Automotive are among the members of CATL’s battery swapping alliance.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione