Energy tech business Octopus Energy and CATL, the battery manufacturer, have announced a new joint venture (JV) to build a European network of battery-swapping hubs.
These hubs will allow electric trucks to replace depleted batteries in minutes, eliminating long charge times and removing one of the biggest barriers to decarbonising heavy transport.
The first UK mega hubs are expected to open in 2027, with more than 30 planned by 2035. Each hub will be capable of servicing thousands of HGVs a day.
Once in full operation, the partners believe the network could support more than 300,000 electric trucks and unlock about £30 billion of private investment.
The JV, called Swaptopus, combines CATL’s battery swapping-station knowledge, already deployed at scale across China, with the energy supply expertise of Octopus.
Alongside electric trucking, Octopus and CATL are also exploring options to scale Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology across CATL’s global network of automotive partners.
Greg Jackson, CEO and Founder of Octopus Energy Group, said, “Electric trucks already beat diesel on running costs, the challenge is keeping them moving.
“Battery swapping changes that. Instead of waiting for hours, trucks can be back on the road in minutes.
“By combining Octopus’s software and energy expertise with CATL’s world-class battery technology, we’re making clean freight practical at scale across Europe.”
Dr. Robin Zeng, Chairman and CEO of CATL, said, “Battery swapping will be a significant part of the future of commercial transport.
“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.
“Together, our expertise in battery swapping, B2G and energy storage, paired with Octopus’s AI-powered energy trading and management technologies, will speed up the electrification of road transport across the region.”
