Shaanxi Communications Holding Group, the provincial transport operator, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CATL, China's largest battery maker, to electrify commercial vehicles and build charging and swapping infrastructure along the province's highways, according to Chinese automotive outlet Gasgoo.
Heavy-truck swap network first
The centerpiece of the deal is a network of battery swap stations for heavy trucks. The two sides will use Shaanxi's highway network and roadside land resources, combined with CATL's standardized Qiji battery swap technology, to build stations that let electric trucks exchange depleted batteries for charged ones in minutes. The model separates the vehicle from the battery pack, which lowers the upfront cost of the truck and cuts overall logistics costs, the agreement says.
Battery swap (where a depleted pack is physically replaced rather than recharged) is gaining traction in China's commercial-vehicle segment because trucks need fast turnaround and predictable energy costs. CATL has been pushing its Qiji swap system as a way to standardize packs across different truck makers.
Solar, storage and recycling
The second pillar of the cooperation is an integrated layout of solar power, energy storage and charging and swapping facilities along highways. The goal is to generate clean energy locally and use it on site, reducing the carbon footprint of road transport.
Third, the two companies will explore the full life cycle of power batteries, including dismantling and recycling, as well as the low-altitude economy, a Chinese term for drone and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft services. The broader aim is to build a model that combines green energy supply, intelligent swap services and smart operations management, the agreement says.
No financial details or a timeline for the projects were disclosed in the announcement. The cooperation is part of a wider push by Chinese provinces to electrify freight corridors, where diesel trucks remain a major source of emissions. CATL has signed similar agreements with other regional transport groups as it seeks to make battery swap a standard feature of long-haul trucking in China.
For Shaanxi, the deal aligns with provincial efforts to cut logistics costs and modernize its highway infrastructure. The province sits at the crossroads of China's northwest, making it a natural testbed for long-distance electric trucking.
