CATL has unveiled its next-generation TECTRANS II commercial vehicle battery platform at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, introducing a modular battery system designed to accelerate the electrification of heavy-duty trucks, medium-duty trucks and buses.
The new battery platform is aimed particularly at long-haul electric transportation, where range, charging speed, payload capacity and vehicle uptime are critical. In its largest configuration, CATL says TECTRANS II can deliver up to 1,000 kilometers of driving range and recharge to 80 percent in just 25 minutes using megawatt-level fast charging.
CATL is also positioning TECTRANS II as more than a high-capacity battery pack. Its standardized and modular architecture is designed to support different commercial vehicle platforms while allowing future battery technologies to be introduced without major changes to the vehicle.
CATL TECTRANS II Offers Up to 1,000 km of Range
TECTRANS II uses a modular approach that allows manufacturers to configure different numbers of standardized battery packs depending on the vehicle’s energy and payload requirements.
At maximum capacity, CATL claims the system can provide up to 1,000 km of range. The company has not yet specified a test cycle for that figure, so the real-world range will depend on vehicle configuration, payload, weather, road conditions and driving conditions.
For long-distance trucking, charging speed could be just as important as range. CATL says TECTRANS II can reach 80 percent charge in 25 minutes when connected to megawatt-level fast-charging infrastructure.
The battery platform can also work with both central-drive systems and electric axle (e-axle) architectures, giving truck manufacturers greater flexibility when developing new models.
Another option is battery swapping. Because the platform supports flexible switching between charging and swapping configurations, TECTRANS II could potentially be used with battery-swapping systems where the necessary infrastructure is available.
Standardized Battery Architecture Could Extend Vehicle Lifecycles
One of the most significant aspects of TECTRANS II is its standardized architecture.
CATL has standardized the battery system’s external dimensions, electrical interfaces and communication protocols. The company says this allows battery technology and pack designs to evolve while maintaining compatibility with existing and future commercial vehicle platforms.
That could become increasingly important as battery technology improves. Instead of requiring truck manufacturers to redesign an entire vehicle platform whenever a new battery generation arrives, future battery upgrades could potentially be integrated with fewer engineering changes.
CATL says the modular approach could shorten vehicle development cycles by up to 50 percent and reduce R&D costs by 60 to 70 percent.
For commercial vehicle manufacturers, this could reduce the time and expense associated with developing multiple battery configurations for different models and applications.
170 Wh/kg Energy Density Adds Payload Capacity
TECTRANS II has a reported gravimetric energy density of 170 Wh/kg, which CATL says is approximately 13 percent higher than the industry average.
Higher energy density is particularly valuable for commercial vehicles because reducing battery weight can create additional payload capacity without sacrificing battery capacity.
According to CATL, the technology can allow a vehicle to carry approximately 0.6 tonnes of additional payload compared with a battery of the same capacity using lower energy-density technology.
The company also says TECTRANS II uses a full-tab, low-impedance battery design capable of achieving 96 percent system round-trip efficiency. Higher efficiency can reduce charging losses and increase the amount of energy available for daily fleet operations.
Designed for 12 Years and 1.5 Million Kilometers
Commercial trucks accumulate significantly more mileage than typical passenger vehicles, making battery durability a major consideration for fleet operators.
CATL says the TECTRANS II battery for heavy-duty trucks is engineered for a service life of 12 years or 1.5 million kilometers, while retaining 70 percent of its original capacity.
The company is also emphasizing physical durability and corrosion resistance. The battery uses a hot-formed steel upper cover, an ultra-strong bottom plate and an extruded-aluminum enclosure with crush-resistant ribs.
CATL says the bottom plate can withstand impacts of up to 1,000 joules, while the enclosure provides lateral crush strength of up to 250 kN. The system is also designed for up to 15 years of corrosion resistance, including operation in coastal and cold environments.
Additional safety features include independent battery-management-system branches, which can isolate a failed branch while allowing the remaining sections of the battery to continue supplying power.
CATL’s insulation fault-location technology is designed to identify whether an insulation problem originates in the battery or elsewhere in the vehicle, potentially helping technicians diagnose problems more quickly.
The company also says cybersecurity protection is incorporated at multiple levels, from chip hardware and software to the wider vehicle system.
TECTRANS II Can Be Adapted to Different Commercial Vehicles
Unlike a battery designed around a single truck model, TECTRANS II is intended as a broader platform for commercial vehicle electrification.
CATL says the system can be offered in different housing formats and installed in locations including the vehicle underbody or roof, depending on the application.
That flexibility makes the platform suitable for heavy-duty trucks, medium-duty trucks and buses, while the modular battery configuration allows manufacturers to balance range, battery weight and payload requirements.
CATL’s strategy also reflects the rapidly changing commercial EV market. Battery capacity, charging technology and cell technology are continuing to evolve, making a platform capable of accepting future battery upgrades potentially valuable to manufacturers planning vehicles with long production lifecycles.
CATL and DHL Plan European Green Freight Corridors
CATL’s IAA Transportation announcement also included a new agreement with DHL Group focused on accelerating electric freight transportation in Europe.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Green Freight Corridors across Europe, building on an agreement announced in September 2024.
The collaboration is expected to combine DHL’s logistics network and operational experience with CATL’s battery technology and electrification ecosystem. The companies also plan to work with vehicle manufacturers and other partners on purpose-built electric commercial vehicles and pilot deployments.
The wider initiative could include charging infrastructure, battery-swapping systems, energy storage and energy-management solutions for logistics operations.
For long-haul electric trucks, such an ecosystem will be essential. High-range batteries alone cannot fully solve the challenges of electrifying freight transport without charging infrastructure, suitable vehicles and operational planning.
CATL Pushes Beyond Passenger EV Batteries
TECTRANS II highlights CATL’s growing focus on commercial vehicles, where battery requirements differ substantially from those of passenger cars.
Long-haul electric trucks need high energy density, fast charging, long service life and strong durability while carrying heavy loads and accumulating hundreds of thousands of kilometers each year.
With its combination of modular battery configurations, 1,000-km claimed maximum range, 25-minute 80-percent charging capability and long service-life target, TECTRANS II is designed specifically around those demands.
CATL Executive President of Overseas Business Akin Li described commercial vehicle electrification as a major new phase of the global energy transition, while CATL Global Business Unit CTO Zhu Lingbo said the company expects commercial vehicle electrification to develop over more than a decade.
The launch of TECTRANS II, together with CATL’s partnership with DHL, signals the company’s broader effort to build not only batteries but also the charging, swapping and energy infrastructure needed to support electric freight transportation at scale.
