Breakthroughs in Power Battery Technology Propel New Energy Commercial Vehicles into a New Phase

Continuous breakthroughs in power battery technology are driving new energy commercial vehicles into a new phase of 'bridging gaps' and accelerating the replacement of fuel vehicles. Data shows that in 2024, the domestic new energy commercial vehicle sector will begin to see the production of 600kWh large-capacity battery packaging vehicles. By 2025, battery manufacturers are expected to push for capacities exceeding 750kWh, even reaching the 1000kWh mark. This indicates significant advancements in power battery technology for commercial vehicles within just one year. As larger capacity battery packs gradually enter mass production, the issue of insufficient vehicle range will be notably alleviated. This not only enhances the economic operational efficiency of new energy commercial vehicles but also potentially accelerates the electrification of commercial vehicles. In the first half of the year, the growth rate of new energy commercial vehicles outpaced the overall market. According to data from the China Automobile Association, from January to June 2025, domestic sales of new energy vehicles (excluding exports) reached 5.878 million units, a year-on-year increase of 35.5%. Among these, new energy passenger vehicle sales totaled 5.524 million units, up 34.3%, while new energy commercial vehicle sales reached 354,000 units, reflecting a robust year-on-year growth of 55.9%. Although these sales figures are still less than one-tenth of those for new energy passenger vehicles, the growth rate of new energy commercial vehicles significantly outstrips that of fuel vehicles, indicating a strong upward trend. Furthermore, in the first half of the year, total domestic commercial vehicle sales were 1.62 million units (excluding exports), with a slight year-on-year increase of 0.3%. This means that new energy commercial vehicles accounted for 21.85% of total domestic commercial vehicle sales. Although fuel commercial vehicles still dominate the market, the growth rate of new energy commercial vehicles far exceeds that of fuel models. Industry insiders point out that with continuous breakthroughs in power battery technology and the evident advantages of lower operational costs for new energy commercial vehicles, the penetration rate is expected to continue rising. Notably, despite currently low penetration rates, new energy commercial vehicles have larger battery capacities, with a 600kWh battery pack equivalent to the capacity of 10-15 passenger vehicles (60kWh-40kWh battery packs). Data from the Power Battery Application Subcommittee indicates that from January to June, the installed capacity of power batteries for domestic new energy passenger and commercial vehicles reached 251.3GWh and 50.8GWh, respectively. Although new energy commercial vehicle sales currently account for only 6.4% of new energy passenger vehicle sales, their installed capacity represents 20% of the total installed capacity for new energy passenger vehicles. As sales grow, this is likely to lead to a significant increase in installed capacity for battery manufacturers, reshaping the market landscape. A key trend in the commercial vehicle market is the increase in battery capacity. In heavy-duty scenarios, there are higher demands on battery pack capacity, charging efficiency, durability, and safety. According to Battery China Observation, leading battery companies are achieving breakthroughs characterized by two main features: on one hand, they are innovating material systems and upgrading processes to continually improve the capacity of new energy commercial vehicle batteries; on the other hand, battery performance in fast charging, longevity, and safety is continuously optimized, further highlighting the economic advantages of new energy commercial vehicles in harsh conditions such as heavy loads and mining. In July, Hive Energy announced that its specially designed long-range battery for commercial vehicles has been equipped on Great Wall's electric wide-body vehicle GT105E long-range version. This long-range battery features a single pack capacity of 95.7kWh, and a combination of 8 packs can achieve an ultra-large capacity of 765kWh, significantly enhancing the range capability for heavy loads. Additionally, the fast-charging version supports 4C charging and, with the 'four-gun fast charge' technology, can achieve a 20%-90% state of charge in just 50 minutes, greatly improving vehicle operational efficiency. The long-life version provides an extended warranty combined with high-strength protective designs suitable for harsh mining environments, showcasing a comprehensive operational cost advantage over the vehicle's entire lifecycle. Earlier in June, Aulton Technology revealed that its SPS large soft-pack semi-solid battery solution could achieve an energy capacity exceeding 1000kWh, primarily for use in commercial vehicles. This breakthrough means new energy commercial vehicles are likely entering a 'thousand kWh' stage, further alleviating current issues of insufficient vehicle range and potentially accelerating the electrification process of sub-segments like heavy-duty trucks. In May, EVE Energy launched eight new 'open-source batteries' designed for commercial vehicles to meet diverse scene requirements. For heavy-duty truck scenarios, in addition to launching LF230P-453kWh, LF668-448kWh, and LF420-563kWh batteries, EVE also introduced the LM284-851kWh battery, which can enable a vehicle range of 700 kilometers. It is evident that regardless of the chemical system or packaging form, the trend for battery packs in commercial vehicles is towards larger capacities. Battery companies must balance the risks of thermal runaway with large battery capacities while shortening charging times and extending battery lifespan, thereby achieving comprehensive upgrades in vehicle range, super-fast charging, longevity, and safety. Recently, international collaborations in commercial vehicle power battery technology have surged, driven by upgrades in battery technology and processes, with Chinese battery companies gaining increasing recognition from overseas clients. In July, CATL signed a memorandum of cooperation with BHP to jointly research battery solutions for heavy mining equipment and rail locomotives, and they will also collaborate in fast-charging infrastructure and battery recycling. In the same month, Farasis Energy signed a memorandum with BHP to explore power battery system solutions for heavy mining equipment and locomotives, along with supporting fast-charging infrastructure, while also looking into the application of BYD's commercial vehicles in mining scenarios. In May, Ruipulan Jin signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with Indonesia's Bakrie & Brothers Group to deliver over 3000 electric buses and trucks with power batteries by 2025. The market for commercial vehicle electrification is accelerating, attracting numerous battery companies such as CATL, BYD, Guoxuan High-Tech, EVE Energy, Ruipulan Jin, Farasis Energy, and others to deeply engage in this field. In the future, as battery energy density, cycle life, and fast-charging technology continue to improve, new energy commercial vehicles are expected to accelerate the replacement of fuel vehicles in high-frequency heavy-load areas such as ports, mining regions, and trunk logistics. Chinese battery companies are reconstructing the competitive logic of the commercial vehicle market through large-capacity, super-fast charging, long-lifespan, and high-safety battery technologies, along with international collaborations. With the goal of achieving 'thousand kWh' capacities, competition in the commercial vehicle power battery sector is set to intensify!