Octopus Energy and Chinese battery giant CATL have announced a joint venture, Swaptopus, to deploy battery swapping technology for electric lorries across Europe. The first UK hubs are expected in 2027, with over 30 mega hubs planned by 2035, each capable of servicing thousands of trucks daily. The partners estimate the network could support 300,000 or more electric trucks and unlock over £30 billion in private investment.
How battery swapping works
The technology allows electric lorries to replace depleted batteries in minutes rather than hours, eliminating long charge times. This addresses a major barrier to decarbonising heavy transport. Greg Jackson, CEO and Founder of Octopus Energy Group, said: "Electric trucks already beat diesel on running costs, the challenge is keeping them moving. Battery swapping changes that. Instead of waiting for hours, trucks can be back on the road in minutes."
Joint venture details
Swaptopus combines Octopus's software and energy expertise with CATL's battery technology. Dr. Robin Zeng, Chairman and CEO of CATL, stated: "Battery swapping will be a significant part of the future of commercial transport. We have field-proven this technology in China, and we are delighted to bring it to the UK and Europe as part of our joint venture with Octopus." The hubs will charge and discharge batteries based on grid demand, acting as a virtual power plant to lower costs for consumers.
William Rowe, CEO and Founder of Swaptopus, added: "We believe the future of land based transport is electric and autonomous, and battery swapping is a massive part of the enabling infrastructure. Not only does it significantly reduce down time but since the batteries at the swapping stations can be charged and discharged when the grid needs it, they act as a virtual power plant and in turn lower costs for consumers."
Timeline and scale
The first UK mega hubs are set to open in 2027, scaling to more than 30 across Europe by 2035. Each hub will be able to service thousands of lorries per day. The initiative is expected to unlock over £30 billion in private investment and support 300,000 or more electric trucks once fully operational.
