The CATL-backed Choco-SEB battery swap network deployed its 2,000th swapping station June 30th, wrapping up another month of incredibly rapid growth that’s seen the company average more than 200 deployments in each and every month of 2026. (!)
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, EV battery giant CATL is reaching a major operational milestone, having deployed its 2,000th battery swap station on June 30th as it charges towards its larger, stated goal of having 3,000 stations fully up and running across the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong by the end of 2026.
CATL first announced that it had co-developed 10 new electric vehicle models with domestic automakers that use its swappable batteries last December, as part of a bid to drive a trend that the company hopes will replace up to a third of the gas stations in China.
As of Wednesday, the company’s network of battery swap stations covered 180 cities across 31 provinces in China alone, with many more coming online quickly in Western markets as well, thanks to CATL’s newly announced partnership with companies like Octopus Energy committed to bringing large-scale battery swapping to UK and European markets.
“Battery swapping will be a significant part of the future of commercial transport,” said Dr. Robin Zeng, chairman and CEO of CATL, in a statement. “We have field-proven this technology in China, and we are delighted to bring it to the UK and Europe as part of our joint venture with Octopus.”
Choco-SEB’s latest expansion targeted a diverse range of urban markets, tourist spots, and commercial districts, and the company is reportedly preparing to enter new major routes like Beijing-Harbin, Beijing-Kunming, Beijing-Tibet, Daqing-Guangzhou, and Lanzhou-Haikou expressways.
If the current pace holds, CATL will have more than 4,000 battery swapping stations deployed globally by the end of 2026, up from ~700 stations last October and ZERO (0) at the start of 2025, proving once again that great things are possible with enough goodwill and corporate collaboration.
Here’s hoping that battery swap times that rival gas station fillups lead to even broader EV deployment somewhat sooner than later.
SOURCES: CATL, via CarNewsChina, CNEVPost, Reuters.
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