CATL’s TECTRANS II modular commercial vehicle battery platform supports a maximum range of up to 621 miles (1,000 km) and an 80% charge in 25 minutes, according to the company. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited introduced the system this week at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, Germany, positioning it as the successor to the TECTRANS system it launched at the same show in 2024. CATL also signed a memorandum of understanding with DHL Group at the event to develop Green Freight Corridors across Europe.
Highlights
- Range and charging: Up to 621 miles (1,000 km) in the maximum configuration, with 80% charging in 25 minutes using megawatt-level fast charging, per CATL.
- Energy density: 170 Wh/kg gravimetric, which the company says is about 13% above the industry average and allows roughly 1,320 pounds (0.6 metric tons) of additional payload at the same capacity.
- Service life: The heavy-duty truck version is engineered for 12 years and about 932,000 miles (1.5 million km) with 70% capacity retention.
- Development impact: CATL says the modular design can cut OEM vehicle development cycles by 50% and R&D costs by 60% to 70%.
What Is the TECTRANS II Platform?
TECTRANS II is built around standardized battery packs. By configuring different numbers of packs, the platform can meet varying energy capacity and payload requirements across commercial vehicle applications, CATL says.
The company describes several design features intended to make the platform adaptable across vehicle programs:
- Compatible drive architectures: The platform works with both e-axle and central-drive layouts and supports switching between charging and battery swapping.
- Standardized interfaces: External dimensions, electrical interfaces and communication protocols are fixed, while battery chemistry and pack designs can evolve. CATL says this allows new and existing vehicle models to receive future upgrades without major changes to the vehicle platform.
- Shared development: Because OEMs do not need to develop a dedicated battery system for each model, the company says the approach reduces development cost, shortens launch timelines and lowers early-stage investment risk.
“Commercial vehicle electrification is emerging as the third wave of the global energy transition,” said Akin Li, Executive President of CATL Overseas Business. “Across products, energy, services and ecosystem, CATL is poised to work with partners around the world to catch this third wave.”
Fleet Economics and Efficiency
CATL frames the platform’s fleet economics around three factors. The 170 Wh/kg energy density is intended to free up payload. The maximum configuration’s 621-mile (1,000 km) range and 25-minute fast charging are aimed at reducing downtime on long-haul routes.
The third factor is efficiency. A full-tab, low-impedance cell design, which CATL describes as the first of its kind, enables 96% system round-trip efficiency, reducing charging losses and delivering more usable energy in daily operation, according to the company.
For residual value, the heavy-duty truck battery targets a 12-year, 932,000-mile (1.5 million km) service life with 70% capacity retention.
Safety and Reliability Features
CATL lists the following physical protection measures for the pack:
- Hot-formed steel upper cover: Withstands repeated stepping by a 397-pound (180 kg) adult 10,000 times without deformation, per the company.
- Bottom plate: Rated for 1,000 J impact resistance against road strikes.
- Enclosure: An extruded-aluminum housing with crush-resistant ribs, delivering lateral crush strength up to 250 kN (about 56,200 lbf).
- Corrosion resistance: Rated for 15 years, supporting operation in coastal and cold-climate environments.
- Maintenance safety: Maintains IPXXB protection with the main connectors connected or disconnected.
On the system side, CATL cites multi-branch independent BMS control that can isolate a failed branch while the remaining branches continue supplying power, proprietary insulation fault-location technology that distinguishes battery faults from other vehicle components, and multi-layer cybersecurity protection from chip hardware through the vehicle system. The company says validation included full-vehicle torsion and external fire testing.
CATL and DHL Group Green Freight Corridors
The MoU with DHL Group builds on an agreement the two companies signed in September 2024. Under the new agreement, the partners will combine DHL’s logistics network, operational expertise and transport requirements with CATL’s battery technology to develop Green Freight Corridors across Europe. They also plan to work with OEMs and other partners to co-develop purpose-built electric vehicles and launch pilot deployments.
“Commercial vehicle electrification will unfold over more than a decade,” said Zhu Lingbo, CTO of CATL Global Business Unit. “With our deep technological expertise and long-term commitment, CATL is ready to be the most reliable partner for customers worldwide and for the global electrification of freight transport.”
