HUTCHISON Ports Yantian, in collaboration with QIJI Energy, a subsidiary of leading electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology, has launched the world's first on-dock chassis battery-swapping station designed for electric trucks.

This groundbreaking innovation drastically reduces the traditional charging time of over an hour to just five minutes, enabling electric trucks to quickly return to full power and resume operations.

The partnership between Hutchison Ports and QIJI Energy involves both the development of the battery-swapping station and the integration of a supporting cloud-based platform, reports Greece's Container News.

This initiative delivers a 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption costs, supports approximately 100 electric trucks, and is expected to cut annual diesel use by over 2,000 tonnes while lowering direct carbon emissions by more than 5,000 tonnes.

Building on its previous promotion of LNG trucks, Hutchison Ports Yantian is advancing the adoption of clean energy vehicles by deploying chassis battery-swapping electric trailers in port operations.

With this initial on-dock swapping station now in operation, the port plans to expand its use of heavy-duty battery-swapping trucks based on performance outcomes.

Additionally, Yantian Port is actively growing its shipping network. This year alone, it has introduced eighteen new services, connecting regions including the United States, South America, the Mediterranean, Australia, and Asia.

Currently, the Chinese port hosts around 100 international weekly liner services, with over 60 per cent linked to Europe and the US.