Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) unveiled TECTRANS II, a next-generation commercial vehicle battery solution, at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover on Sept. 15, 2026. The modular platform can support different energy and payload requirements by combining standardized battery packs, with a maximum driving range of up to 1,000 kilometers. It supports e-axle and central-drive architectures and can switch between charging and battery swapping. CATL said standardized external dimensions, electrical interfaces and communication protocols will allow battery technologies and pack designs to evolve while remaining compatible with new and existing vehicle models. The company says the approach can cut vehicle development cycles by 50% and reduce research and development costs by 60% to 70%. The battery has a gravimetric energy density of 170 Wh/kg, about 13% above the industry average, enabling approximately 0.6 tonnes of additional payload at the same battery capacity. It can reach 80% charge in 25 minutes using megawatt-level fast charging and offers 96% system round-trip efficiency through a full-tab low-impedance design. For heavy-duty trucks, CATL says the battery is engineered for a 12-year, 1.5-million-kilometer service life while retaining 70% capacity. Safety features include a hot-formed steel cover tested against 10,000 steps by an 180-kilogram adult, a bottom plate rated for 1,000 joules of impact resistance, an enclosure with lateral crush strength of up to 250 kilonewtons and 15-year corrosion resistance. The system also includes redundant battery management system controls, insulation fault-location technology and cybersecurity protections. CATL and DHL Group signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Green Freight Corridors across Europe, building on their September 2024 agreement and including work with OEMs and other partners on purpose-built electric vehicles and pilot deployments.