On November 26, Hutchison Ports YANTIAN (YANTIAN) and QIJI Energy, a subsidiary of the world's largest EV battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), today announced the launch of world's first on-dock chassis battery swapping station for electric trucks. With the support of relevant government authorities, the successful implementation of this project marks a significant advancement for YANTIAN in developing a green and smart port.

Representatives from the Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Transport Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and the Yantian District Government of Shenzhen, and management team from YANTIAN and QIJI Energy, relevant industry experts, and representatives from partner enterprises attended the launch ceremony.

YANTIAN and QIJI Energy have revolutionised port transportation with this groundbreaking on-dock chassis battery-swapping initiative in response to the “Shenzhen’s Truck Battery Swapping Service Network Pilot Programme”. This innovative system transforms the traditional hour-plus charging process into a mere five-minute operation, allowing electric trucks to return to service at their full power. 

Yu Jing, Party Secretary of Shenzhen New Energy Storage Industry Committee, remarked at the event “The establishment of the first on-dock chassis battery swapping station in Yantian Port is a significant achievement in supporting the exploration and practice of chassis battery swapping technology for heavy-duty trucks. Its completion will effectively address energy supply challenges for heavy-duty trucks in port logistics, significantly enhance transportation efficiency, reduce operational costs, and set a new benchmark for green port development, providing valuable experience for the application of new energy heavy-duty trucks across the city and even nationwide.”

Xu Min, Deputy Section Head of Shenzhen Transport Bureau, commented at the “While maintaining efficient port operations, YANTIAN continues to explore innovations in green port development. This year has seen record usage of shore power, and now with the establishment of this on-dock chassis battery swapping station, we are taking another important step toward advancing Shenzhen Port's green low-carbon development. This not only signifies the solid progress of Shenzhen ports in promoting green ports and energy conservation but also strongly supports our commitment to building a green low-carbon transportation system.”

The collaboration between YANTIAN and QIJI Energy encompasses both the construction of the chassis battery swapping station and a cloud platform. This initiative not only promotes YANTIAN’s commitment to sustainability but also reduces energy consumption costs by 20%. This innovative and efficient station will serve around 100 electric trucks and is expected to reduce annual diesel consumption by over 2,000 tons and direct carbon emissions by more than 5,000 tons, significantly improving the air quality around the port while optimising port logistics efficiency.

Lawrence Shum, Managing Director of YANTIAN said “As a pioneer in green port development, YANTIAN is the only port in the world to have won the ‘Best Green Container Terminal’ award four times. Over the past decade, our annual throughput has increased by 24%, while carbon emissions per container have decreased by 33%. The launch of QIJI Energy's on-dock chassis battery swapping station will significantly enhance operational efficiency and reduce logistics costs while effectively lowering carbon emissions. This aligns perfectly with our development strategy. We look forward to more new energy vehicles joining us on this journey toward building a green port and sustainable development.”

Jun Yang, General Manager of QIJI Energy said “Thanks to Shenzhen's supportive policies for establishing a heavy-duty truck battery swapping service network, along with our partner YANTIAN's commitment to efficiency and strong sense of social responsibility towards environmental protection, we have successfully launched the world’s first on-dock chassis battery swapping station at Yantian Port. The benefits of chassis battery swapping include increased efficiency, enhanced economic advantages, improved safety, and significant contributions to environmental protection. We believe that by integrating both economic value and ecological benefits, this model will facilitate its expansion from YANTIAN to Shenzhen and beyond, providing new momentum for our partners' green transformation.”

Following its promotion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks, YANTIAN is once again driving large-scale adoption of clean energy trucks by utilising chassis battery swapping electric trailers for port operations. The deployment of this on-dock chassis battery swapping station not only resolves the battery life limitation for electric heavy-duty trucks but also further enhances operational efficiency at the port. With this first on-dock chassis battery swapping station now operational, YANTIAN plans to gradually introduce more chassis battery swapping heavy-duty trucks into its operations based on usage effectiveness.

QIJI Energy's "QIJI Battery Swapping" solution is an integrated system that includes battery swapping blocks, swapping stations, and a cloud platform. It provides both cost savings and environmental benefits for the logistics industry. The launch of this world-first on-dock chassis battery swapping station showcases the seamless integration of green energy with modern logistics, representing a significant advancement for Shenzhen in transforming its port logistics sector while fostering green and intelligent transportation development. This initiative is vital for boosting regional economic competitiveness. Looking ahead, YANTIAN will strengthen its partnership with QIJI Energy to support high-quality development at Shenzhen ports and align with national dual-carbon strategic objectives.

In addition to constantly developing a smart port and enhancing its infrastructure, YANTIAN is actively expanding its shipping services network. This year, it has added 18 new services, covering United States, South America, Mediterranean, Australia and Asia, which offered more destinations and allows Chinese companies import and export efficiently through multiple channels. YANTIAN, one of the world's largest container terminals, with about 100 international weekly liner services, over 60% of which connecting to Europe and U.S. In collaboration with shipping lines, government departments and Customs, YANTIAN provides extensive, high-quality and efficient maritime services for its customers.