Five-Minute Battery Swaps Power China's E-Trucks

Buzzline

The Guardian reports that China's battery maker CATL aims to operate 2,000 battery-swapping stations by the end of 2027 and bring the technology to Europe. On Hainan, 53-year-old driver Wang Bing hauls goods between Haikou and Dongfang, where a battery swap takes about five minutes, compared with an hour and a half for charging. He says fuel costs about 1.1 yuan per kilometer, versus more than 2 yuan for diesel. China sold more than 400,000 electric trucks last year, representing over 90% of the global total, and the video explains how swapping works and why it cuts costs.  Disclosure: This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.

Transcript

00:00In China, electric truck drivers now swap their batteries in about five minutes.

00:04Driver Wang Bing hauls five tons of goods between two cities on Hainan Island.

00:09A round trip covers about 500 kilometers.

00:12His old truck needed an hour and a half to charge.

00:15Now he drives into a swapping station, and a fresh battery is fitted automatically.

00:19He does not even leave the cab.

00:21He says electricity costs about 1.1 yen per kilometer.

00:25Diesel costs more than 2 yen.

00:27That saves him more than 20,000 yen a month, he says.

00:30China sold more than 400,000 e-trucks last year, over 90% of the global total.

00:36Battery maker CATL wants 2,000 swapping stations by the end of 2027,

00:42and plans to bring the technology to Europe.

00:45Buyers can rent the battery, which is about 40% of a truck's price.

00:49Disclosure, this video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.

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