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The A-list Chinese firms CATL and Sinopec signed a huge EV battery swapping deal last week. Apparently they didn’t get enough attention, because they sent the news sailing all over the wires again earlier this morning. The new partnership is worth a second look, partly because it involves making space for new clean tech in Sinopec’s sprawling network of legacy gas stations.
Make Way For EV Battery Swapping Stations
Sinopec has about 30,000 gas stations in China, so dedicating 10,000 of them to EV battery swapping is no drop-in-the-bucket pilot project. The partnership with CATL signifies that battery swapping is an important, permanent fixture in China’s mobility market.
Sinopec also has more than 28,000 Easy Joy stores in its roster, which means that many swapping station customers can also enjoy the convenience of a quick grab-and-go when they pull in for a new battery.
So, why swapping stations and not more EV charging stations? That’s a good question. Swapping stations take up more space, but they can have a speed advantage over EV charging. They fit seamlessly into the fully automated, hands-free mobility world of the future, and they can also pull double duty for grid resilience and back-up power.
Sinopec actually has both charging and swapping stations in its sights. While the company’s website states that it is still dedicated to growing its oil and gas profile, last spring the news organization Upstream noted that doesn’t necessarily mean making more fuel for automobiles. A shift into high-value petrochemicals is part of the plan, and the company has already installed 10,000 “ultra-fast” EV charging stations at its gas stations and parking lots.
EV Battery Swapping & Fueling Diversity
CleanTechnica has discussed the advantages and disadvantages of EV battery swapping over the years, ever since Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced the idea back in 2013 only to drop it in favor of other pursuits unrelated to mobility.
That’s too bad for Tesla. The swapping option is yet another demonstration that the electric mobility landscape of the future will be a diverse one. Gasmobiles require almost exactly the same maneuvers of all drivers to refuel, but an EV battery can be swapped out, charged at a public station, or charged at private locations including homes and workplaces.
New wireless EV charging technology — another option ignored by Musk — is also emerging on the market, enabling drivers to simply stop over a charging pad. Researchers are also developing in-road EV charging systems that provide a charge on-the-go.
CATL and Sinopec have an opportunity to push EV battery swapping to the front of the line, given their respective resources.
“This year, the collaboration targets the construction of no fewer than 500 battery swap stations, with a long-term goal of 10,000 stations, creating a seamless “swap-as-fast-as-refueling” experience for electric vehicle (EV) owners in China,” the partners explained in a press statement. “The initiative aligns with China’s national strategy to promote new infrastructure and low-carbon transportation.”
The Energy Transition Is Coming For Your Fossil Fuels
China’s enthusiastic adoption of EVs is the driving force behind Sinopec’s transition to a diversified fueling model. The company has seen the writing on the wall, and it spells EVs. “By combining our energy supply capabilities, nationwide network, and customer service expertise with CATL’s cutting-edge technology, we aim to build a comprehensive energy infrastructure that powers a better life,” explains Sinopec charman Ma Yongsheng.
“Through this partnership, we will elevate the battery swap model to new heights, injecting fresh momentum into sustainable development,” CATL Chairman and CEO Dr. Robin Zeng emphasizes.
The partnership between battery maker and gas station owner also hints of a broader alignment of industrial interests with the aim of rolling out a “diverse lineup of battery-swappable passenger and commercial vehicles.”
CATL notes that its list of partnerships with automakers includes Changan, GAC Aion, BAIC, SAIC, and Hongqi, along with NIO, which has already demonstrated its enthusiasm for battery swapping technology.
CATL also lists Sinotruk and Foton among the truck makers on its partner list, and the Chinese battery swapping startup U Power is already supersizing its technology for electric trucks.
As for grid support, that’s not an afterthought in the CATL-Sinopec plan. The 10,000 new swapping stations will integrate with their ongoing work in various energy and advanced materials ventures. “The collaboration will build smart energy microgrids, featuring solar power, energy storage, charging, swapping, and battery inspection,” the partners explain.
Meanwhile, Back In The USA…
It’s not just a matter of saving the planet. There is money to be made in the energy transition. “Moving forward, the two companies will explore broader synergies in zero-carbon solutions, vehicle ecosystems, and battery materials,” they emphasize.
“Capital and equity partnerships will also be pursued to foster innovation and accelerate the development of new productive forces,” they emphasize again for good measure.
While CATL and Sinopec are busy laying plans to provide Chinese automakers with supportive infrastructure to help keep the EV assembly lines humming, over here in the US a thin-skinned Commander-in-Chief occupies the Oval Office has been pulling the rug out from under domestic EV makers, with the NEVI charging station program being just one casualty.
Federal support or note, EV stakeholders still determined to keep expanding the US charging network. EV battery swapping is probably not in the cards for US drivers in the near future, but plenty of new EV charging stations on the way.
Leading US travel center operators like Sheetz and Pilot are adopting the fuel diversity model, and multiple startups have finally figured out how to crack the EV charging barrier at multi-family residential buildings, attracting the interest of CBRE and other global real estate developers.
In one particularly interesting development, the new IONNA EV charging consortium has finished the beta-testing phase of its new, lounge-like “Rechargery” charging stations and is ready to go wide with driver conveniences including bathrooms, snacks, and a fun retro-chic atmosphere for EV drivers designed by newly tapped brand partner VLM (see more IONNA news here).
The founding members of the IONNA consortium are BMW, Honda, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis. If you’re looking for Tesla, don’t bother. Its CEO has no time to invest in new ventures that support EV sales. He’s too busy doing, well, other stuff.
If you have any thoughts about that, drop a note in the comment thread. Better yet, find your representatives in Congress and let them know what you think.
Photo (cropped): Drivers in China will get to use 10,000 new EV battery swapping stations, constructed under a new partnership between CATL and Sinopec (courtesy of CATL/Sinopec via prnewswire.com).
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