A ceremony was held in Hechuan District, Chongqing, to celebrate the completion of the new energy heavy-duty truck station and the expansion of the service network. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

Chongqing – In Chongqing’s Hechuan District, a new pilot site for new-energy heavy-duty trucks was completed, working with building materials and paper industries to expand cleaner transport networks.

The Hechuan site features 100 intelligent heavy-duty trucks, battery-swapping stations, rooftop solar power, and a full-service hub, with an investment of about 100 million yuan (about 14.1 million U.S. dollars).  Together with the Yongchuan and Tongliang sites, it now serves over 50 mines and supports key resource and manufacturing sectors.

Built on the experience of Yongchuan District, the Hechuan site follows Chongqing’s leading model for new-energy heavy-duty truck operations. Opened on January 3, 2024, Yongchuan’s 60-acre station—the largest in Southwest China—pioneered the integrated development of vehicles, stations, electricity, and aftermarket services. With a total planned investment of 1.79 billion yuan (about 252 million U.S. dollars) and 142 million yuan (about 20 million U.S. dollars) in its first phase, the site operates 100 trucks and features distributed battery-swapping stations enabling 3–5 minute swaps, as well as rooftop solar power generation.

"The core value of the Yongchuan project lies in verifying the feasibility of a fully self-operating chain," said Wang Dongran, Chairman of Zhongji New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. From vehicle procurement, battery swapping station construction, to utilizing photovoltaic power stations, and providing after-sales services, the Yongchuan site not only becomes a self-standing module but also provides a replicable solution. 

In addition to photovoltaics, battery swapping, energy storage, and utilization, the current model also integrates logistical services such as maintenance, insurance, and accommodation. Consequently, the total operating cost of new energy heavy-duty trucks is reduced by more than 70% compared to gasoline vehicles. In 2024, the Yongchuan service point's annual revenue reached approximately 100 million yuan.

Zhongji New Energy is also developing a collaborative intelligent platform expected to launch next June. It originates from operational data accumulated from the Yongchuan and Tongliang operations. This platform will enable factories and mines to place orders online, intelligently schedule transportation, monitor real-time battery status, and complete settlement digitally, further reducing logistics costs and improving safety and efficiency.

"We are confident in promoting this model nationwide," said Wang Dongran. After the platform goes live, the company aims to apply the technical standards, operational, and government-enterprise experience accumulated from Chongqing to western provinces and across the country.