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CATL Launches TECTRANS II at IAA Transportation 2026

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has officially introduced its innovative TECTRANS II platform at the IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover. This advanced modular battery solution aims to significantly accelerate the electrification of commercial vehicles worldwide.

The Rise of Electric Commercial Vehicles

Akin Li, the Executive President of CATL's Overseas Business, highlighted the importance of this moment, stating, "Electrification of commercial vehicles marks the third wave of global energy transformation." With this in mind, CATL is committed to collaborating with global partners to harness this opportunity across various product offerings, energy solutions, services, and ecosystems.

Features of the TECTRANS II Platform

Modular Design

The TECTRANS II platform boasts a modular architecture that allows adaptation to diverse applications and operational needs of commercial vehicles. By configuring different numbers of standardized battery blocks, the platform can cater to varying energy capacity requirements and payloads, supporting a maximum range of up to 1,000 kilometers.

Flexibility and Compatibility

This platform is designed to be versatile; it works seamlessly with both electric axle architectures and central drive designs, facilitating easy switching between charging and battery swapping strategies. Furthermore, its standardized outer dimensions and electrical interfaces enable compatibility with future battery technology advancements and vehicle designs, reducing the need for significant modifications to existing models.

Accelerated Market Deployment

One of the standout features of the TECTRANS II is its potential to streamline vehicle development cycles. OEMs can reduce their product development timelines by as much as 50% and cut R&D costs by 60-70%, leading to more rapid market introductions and lower adaptation costs.

Lifecycle Cost Efficiency

The platform emphasizes lifecycle economic benefits, enabling quicker returns on investment by negating the need for separate battery systems for each vehicle model. This approach not only minimizes development expenses but also reduces time-to-market schedules and initial investment risks.

Enhanced Operational Performance

The TECTRANS II battery provides notable operational advantages:

• - Increased Energy Density: Featuring a gravimetric energy density of 170 Wh/kg—about 13% higher than the industry average—allowing vehicles to carry an additional 0.6 tons of payload with the same battery capacity.
• - Longer Range and Faster Charging: The maximum battery configuration offers up to 1,000 km of range and reaches 80% charge in just 25 minutes using megawatt-level fast charging, reducing downtime during long-distance travel.
• - Higher Efficiency: With a groundbreaking low impedance design, it achieves a remarkable energy transfer efficiency of 96%, allowing for minimal charging losses and maximizing usable energy for daily operations.

Durability and Reliability

Constructed to withstand real-world commercial operation conditions, the TECTRANS II is designed with a robust physical protective structure, ensuring:

• - High-Strength Protection: Features a steel top cover that can resist repeated impacts from a 180 kg adult numerous times without deformation, and an extremely sturdy bottom plate designed to withstand impacts of up to 1,000 Joules.
• - Corrosion Resistance: Emphasizes a 15-year corrosion resistance, suitable for coastal and cold environments, ensuring long-term operational viability.

Safety Innovations

The platform also incorporates multiple layers of safety and redundancy:

• - System Redundancy: Independent control of multi-branch BMS allows the system to isolate failing branches while others continue to provide power.
• - Cyber Protection: Adheres to international cybersecurity standards throughout development, integrating multilayered protections from chips and software to full vehicle systems.

Commitment to Sustainability

At the IAA Transportation 2026, CATL also signed a memorandum of understanding with DHL, aiming to develop green corridors for freight transport across Europe. Both companies will combine DHL's operational expertise and logistical network with CATL’s battery technology to innovate purpose-built electric vehicles.

As Zhu Lingbo, CATL's CTO, remarked, "The electrification of commercial vehicles is a long-term trajectory expected to span over a decade. With our extensive technological expertise and sustained commitment, CATL is poised to be the most reliable partner for our customers globally in the electric transportation sector."

The TECTRANS II platform underscores CATL's ongoing commitment to continuous innovation and product quality, positioned to thrive in the demanding landscape of commercial vehicle operations.