Leapmotor has unveiled its LEAP 5.0 New Mobile Space Architecture and a Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) 3.0 High-Low Fusion Battery that the company says delivers a seven-fold increase in low-voltage capacity, removing the need for a separate 12-volt battery. Both technologies debuted recently at the 2026 Leapmotor Tech Day, held at the company’s Hu Zhou battery facility in China. According to Leapmotor, the hardware will underpin the brand’s next generation of products, launching from 2027 onward.
Highlights
- The CTC 3.0 High-Low Fusion Battery offers a seven-fold increase in low-voltage capacity and function over the previous generation, the company reports, eliminating the separate 12-volt battery.
- LEAP 5.0 integrates the air conditioning unit and rear-mounted powertrain, which Leapmotor says increases cabin length by 19%, reduces part count by 18%, and cuts required piping by 30%.
- A higher roof and lower, fully flat floor increase interior height by 63.7%, according to the company.
- The first vehicles built on the new architecture will be revealed in 2027.
LEAP 5.0 New Mobile Space Architecture
Leapmotor describes LEAP 5.0 as purpose-built physical hardware for all of its next-generation products. The architecture pairs a new vehicle structure with a centrally integrated control system. The company says the configuration better meets the requirements of vehicles that are electrified and equipped with an array of autonomous technologies.
How Does LEAP 5.0 Increase Cabin Space?
The company attributes the interior gains to three packaging changes:
- Integrated air conditioning and powertrain: An all-in-one air conditioning unit is combined with the rear-mounted powertrain, two previously separate systems. Leapmotor reports a 19% increase in cabin length, an 18% reduction in part count, and a 30% reduction in piping.
- Vertical shock absorber layout: A new vertical shock absorber layout with an aluminum tower is more compact. The company says it minimizes cabin intrusion and increases front-row lateral legroom by 37.5%.
- Higher roof and flat floor: A new skateboard design allows a higher roof and a lower, fully flat floor. According to Leapmotor, the combination increases interior height by 63.7% and creates an open cabin with full standing height.
The first vehicles to use the architecture will be revealed in 2027.
CTC 3.0 High-Low Fusion Battery
CTC 3.0 is the latest generation of Leapmotor’s cell-to-chassis battery technology, a package-less battery and power supply system. The new version can operate low-voltage functions directly. Leapmotor says the seven-fold increase in low-voltage capacity matches the power supplied by a traditional 12-volt battery.
The design eliminates separate battery modules by integrating them directly into the chassis. High- and low-voltage batteries use the same cells and modules. They also share thermal management and energy distribution, which the company describes as a complete reconstruction of the vehicle’s power supply system.
Why Remove the 12-Volt Battery?
Traditionally, a 12-volt battery has served as a vehicle’s electrical foundation. It operates functions such as the starter motor, windshield wipers, HVAC, lights, infotainment screens, security systems, and airbags.
Leapmotor says large-scale deployment of CTC 3.0 could eliminate tens of millions of lead-acid batteries annually, reducing pollution from waste batteries. The company also says the system is maintenance-free for the life of the vehicle. Owners would not need to replace a battery every few years, which Leapmotor says lowers ownership costs.
Stellantis Partnership
Stellantis became a strategic shareholder in Leapmotor in 2023. In 2024, the two companies established Leapmotor International, a 51:49 joint venture led by Stellantis, to accelerate the brand’s expansion outside Greater China.
