A Choco-SEB swap station. Credit: Fuzhou News Understand China EV’s Market Real-time notifications when critical EV data is released All important data in one place 2,000,000+ data points Become a member CATL, the world’s biggest battery manufacturer, announced today that its Choco-SEB battery swap network has reached a milestone, with 2,000 stations now operational across China. As of June 30, the network spans 31 provinces and 180 cities, achieving a coverage rate of over 80% in small and medium-sized cities. The network has seen aggressive growth throughout the second quarter of 2026, averaging more than 200 new stations per month. This expansion has targeted a diverse range of urban centres, including cultural tourism hubs, commercial centres and other regional centres. CATL is also intensifying its focus on highway infrastructure. Construction is currently underway on major routes, including the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Greater Bay Area expressways. Furthermore, the company is preparing to enter key national arterial routes, such as the Beijing-Harbin, Beijing-Kunming, Beijing-Tibet, Daqing-Guangzhou, and Lanzhou-Haikou expressways. A light-duty truck swapping its battery at a Choco-SEB station. Beyond the mainland, CATL has officially launched its first two battery swap stations in Hong Kong, with a long-term plan to establish approximately 36 stations in the region by 2030. This rapid development marks a significant acceleration from the company’s progress in late 2025, when it had reached 700 stations across 39 cities. Looking ahead, CATL has set a target to reach 3,000 operational stations by the end of 2026, expanding its footprint to over 190 cities. This April, CATL announced that its Chocolate passenger and Qiji heavy truck battery-swap stations will now feature Shenxing Supercharging piles as a standard component. This integration transforms existing facilities into hybrid stations capable of both rapid charging and battery replacement. By streamlining energy conversion, the system reduces power loss by over 13 per cent compared to current storage-equipped charging alternatives. To support this new infrastructure, the company launched the 800V-capable Chocolate 26# swap battery. Starting in the second half of this year, users can generate revenue by exchanging batteries during peak pricing windows, potentially earning 40 yuan (7 USD) daily.