Hanover, Germany – September 17, 2026 -- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) unveiled its next-generation commercial vehicle battery platform, TECTRANS II, at IAA Transportation 2026, claiming a gravimetric energy density of 170 Wh/kg, roughly 13% above the industry average.
TECTRANS II cuts OEM development costs by up to 70%
CATL said the modular platform, which standardizes external dimensions, electrical interfaces and communication protocols across battery packs, helps original equipment manufacturers shorten vehicle development cycles by 50% and reduce R&D costs by 60% to 70%. The platform supports both e-axle and central-drive architectures and allows switching between charging and battery swapping without major changes to vehicle design.
Battery delivers 1,000 km range and 25-minute fast charging
In its maximum configuration, TECTRANS II offers up to 1,000 kilometers of range and reaches 80% charge in 25 minutes using megawatt-level fast charging. CATL said the higher energy density allows vehicles to carry approximately 0.6 tonnes of additional payload at the same battery capacity, while a full-tab low-impedance design achieves 96% system round-trip efficiency.
Heavy-duty version rated for 1.5 million kilometers over 12 years
CATL engineered the TECTRANS II battery for heavy-duty trucks to withstand a 12-year, 1.5-million-kilometer service life while retaining 70% capacity, a specification the company said supports stronger residual value for fleet assets. The battery pack includes a hot-formed steel upper cover rated to withstand repeated stepping by an 180-kilogram adult 10,000 times, an ultra-strong bottom plate rated at 1,000 J impact resistance, and an extruded-aluminum enclosure delivering lateral crush strength up to 250 kN. CATL added the design carries 15-year corrosion resistance for coastal and cold-region operation, alongside multi-branch independent battery management system control that isolates failed branches while remaining branches continue supplying power.
CATL and DHL sign MoU to build Green Freight Corridors across Europe
At the show, CATL signed a memorandum of understanding with DHL Group to develop Green Freight Corridors across Europe, building on an agreement the two companies reached in September 2024. The partners will combine DHL's logistics network and operational data with CATL's battery technology, and will work with OEMs to co-develop purpose-built electric vehicles and launch pilot deployments.
"Commercial vehicle electrification is emerging as the third wave of the global energy transition," said Akin Li, Executive President of CATL Overseas Business, at the Hanover event.