The Tectrans II, marketed in China as Tianxing II, has been developed specifically for light commercial vehicles used in last-mile delivery, urban distribution and service operations.
CATL says the battery can increase its state of charge from 20% to 80% in 6 minutes and 48 seconds. It also quotes a full charging time of 8 minutes and 56 seconds, but has not clearly stated the starting charge level used for that figure.
The company describes the pack as the first battery in the logistics and commercial vehicle segment to achieve a peak charging rate of up to 8C for short periods.
The figures have not yet been independently verified, and CATL has not published real-world fleet data.
Charging power remains unknown
For parcel carriers and other multi-shift fleets, charging in under ten minutes could substantially reduce vehicle downtime. In principle, electric vans could recover useful range during short operational breaks rather than being removed from service for lengthy charging sessions.
However, CATL has not disclosed the capacity of the battery or the charging power needed to achieve the stated performance. It has also not identified the chargers or electrical infrastructure required.
No initial vehicle manufacturers or series-production models have been named, leaving uncertainty over when the technology could enter normal fleet operations.
Warranty aims to address battery degradation
CATL is positioning durability alongside charging speed as one of the battery’s main selling points. The Tectrans II will carry a warranty of ten years or one million kilometres, whichever comes first.
The manufacturer says it has reduced the cells’ internal resistance to around half the industry norm, which should limit heat generation during high-power charging.
It has also made changes to the graphite particle interface in an effort to reduce lithium loss and slow battery ageing.
CATL has not published the full warranty conditions, including any exclusions or the minimum usable capacity guaranteed at the end of the coverage period. The effect of repeated ultra-fast charging on long-term battery health will therefore need to be demonstrated in commercial use.
Cold-weather performance could benefit European fleets
The manufacturer claims the Tectrans II can maintain much of its rapid-charging performance at low temperatures.
At minus 20°C, CATL says charging takes only 2 minutes and 30 seconds longer than under normal conditions.
Such performance would be particularly relevant to operators in Central and Northern Europe, where low battery temperatures can significantly slow charging. As with the other specifications, however, the cold-weather figures are based solely on CATL’s own data.
New battery differs from earlier truck range
CATL introduced the first Tectrans batteries in 2024, initially focusing on heavy commercial vehicles.
The fast-charging version was said to achieve a 4C peak rate and increase its state of charge by 70 percentage points in 15 minutes. Other variants were presented with a calculated service life of up to 15 years or three million kilometres.
The company also unveiled a long-haul configuration with a capacity of 1,000 kWh and a claimed range of up to 800 kilometres.
Direct comparisons with the Tectrans II are limited because the earlier products were intended for heavy lorries rather than vans and smaller commercial vehicles, which have different battery capacities and charging requirements.
European launch remains uncertain
CATL also plans to expand its charging and battery-swapping network in China, with 4,000 combined stations expected to be built during the year. The sites are intended to serve both passenger and commercial vehicles.
No equivalent infrastructure plans have been announced for Europe. CATL has also given no European launch date for the Tectrans II and has not disclosed any partnerships with European van manufacturers.
For European fleet operators, the battery is therefore more an indication of where commercial-vehicle technology is heading than an immediate purchasing option.
Its practical value will depend on whether the claimed charging performance can be repeated in daily operation, which vehicles adopt the battery and whether depots and public charging sites can provide the power required.
