Hong Kong Introduces Right-Hand-Drive Taxis Equipped with CATL’s 99-Second Battery Swap Technology
Hong Kong is set to revolutionize its taxi industry with the launch of right-hand-drive electric taxis that utilize state-of-the-art battery swapping technology developed by Chinese battery giant CATL. This breakthrough promises to eliminate the lengthy recharging wait times typically associated with electric vehicles (EVs), significantly boosting the efficiency and appeal of electric taxis in the city.
Addressing the EV Charging Challenge for Commercial Fleets
While electric vehicles are known for their impressive acceleration and environmental benefits, one longstanding obstacle has been the time needed to recharge their batteries. Unlike conventional gasoline vehicles that can be refueled in minutes, EV drivers often face extended downtime — a critical issue for high-use commercial vehicles such as taxis, where every minute off the road translates to lost earnings.
CATL’s innovative solution aims to overcome this bottleneck with a rapid battery swapping system that can replace a depleted battery with a fully charged one in just 99 seconds. This rapid exchange dramatically reduces downtime and helps alleviate range anxiety for taxi drivers.
The FAW Hongqi E-QM5: Hong Kong’s First Battery-Swappable Right-Hand-Drive Taxi
At the heart of this development is the FAW Hongqi E-QM5, the world’s first right-hand-drive new energy taxi designed specifically to support battery swapping. Powered by a 56 kWh Choco-SEB battery pack — a proprietary module supplied directly by CATL — this model achieves an impressive CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) range of 500 kilometers on a single charge. This extensive range ensures that drivers can operate throughout the day with minimal interruptions.
What sets the FAW Hongqi E-QM5 apart is its compatibility with CATL’s Choco-SEB battery swap technology. Instead of plugging in for a slow recharge, drivers simply pull into designated swapping stations to exchange their depleted battery packs for charged ones in under two minutes. This efficiency positions battery swapping as a game-changer for commercial electric vehicles.
CATL’s Battery Swap Ecosystem and Standardization Efforts
CATL officially entered the battery swap market in early 2022 through its EVOGO brand, operated by subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology (CAES). A key to the system’s success lies in standardization. Last year, CATL introduced two standardized Choco-SEB battery pack formats, known as #20 and #25, enabling various EV types to benefit from the same swap infrastructure. This modular approach aims to facilitate widespread industry adoption and greater interoperability across vehicle models.
Strategic Collaborations to Launch Hong Kong’s Battery Swapping Network
Bringing this vision to life in Hong Kong has involved a strategic partnership. CATL, along with CAES, Dragon Rise New Energy, FAW’s import-export arm, and CATL’s joint venture with ride-hailing giant Didi, inked a strategic cooperation agreement on November 24, 2025. It was at a joint event celebrating this collaboration that the battery-swappable FAW Hongqi E-QM5 was unveiled alongside Dragon Rise’s battery swap ecosystem showroom.
Expanding Infrastructure Across Hong Kong
The first Choco-SEB battery swap station in Hong Kong began construction earlier this year on Ping Che Road in Fanling, New Territories, and is slated to open imminently. This facility will serve as the initial hub enabling taxi drivers to experience the 99-second battery swapping firsthand.
CATL has ambitious plans for rapid expansion: six swap stations are expected to be operational across Hong Kong by the end of 2026, increasing to a total of 14 stations by 2027. These stations will be strategically positioned to cover key urban areas, ensuring convenient and timely access to battery swaps for taxi operators and potentially other commercial EV users.
Regional Ambitions Beyond Hong Kong
The development in Hong Kong is part of CATL’s broader vision to establish a comprehensive new energy mobility network extending well beyond the city’s borders. Successful deployment of the Choco-SEB battery swap system is intended to serve as a model for rollouts throughout the ASEAN region and beyond.
By demonstrating that electric commercial vehicles can be “refueled” faster than traditional gasoline-powered ones, CATL and its partners hope to accelerate the transition toward a fully electric future for urban transport fleets across Asia.
With Hong Kong paving the way for battery swapping-enabled electric taxis, the days of lengthy EV charging waits could soon be a problem of the past, reshaping the landscape for sustainable urban mobility.
Source: ArenaEV.com
