CATL Launches Modular TECTRANS II Battery System for Commercial Vehicles
CATL introduced the TECTRANS II platform at IAA Transportation 2026, offering standardized battery packs for different commercial vehicle needs. The heavy-duty version claims up to 1,000 kilometers of range and megawatt charging that can reach 80% in 25 minutes. CATL says the design can cut development cycles and R&D costs while supporting e-axle or central-drive layouts and battery swapping.
CATL presented TECTRANS II at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover. The modular system uses standardized packs that can be arranged for varied commercial vehicle duties, including heavy trucks, medium-duty vehicles, and buses. It supports e-axle or central-drive layouts and can be set up for conventional charging or battery exchange.
For heavy-duty use, CATL cites up to 1,000 km range and 80% recharge in 25 minutes with megawatt charging. The pack is rated at 170 Wh/kg, 96% round-trip efficiency, and a 12-year/1.5-million-km service target with 70% capacity retention. CATL also signed an agreement with DHL Group to work on lower-emission freight routes in Europe.
If deployed at scale, TECTRANS II could affect freight operators, logistics workers, vehicle makers, and communities along freight corridors. Longer range and faster charging may reduce diesel use and downtime, but benefits depend on grid capacity, charging infrastructure, battery supply, and cost. DHL-linked corridors could test whether electric heavy trucks become practical, potentially lowering emissions and noise where deployment occurs, while shifting maintenance and energy demands onto new networks.