China / Portugal – Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), based in Ningde, Fujian, is set to supply Portuguese Bus and coach manufacturer, CaetanoBus SA of Vila Nova de Gaia, with dedicated electric bus batteries starting in Q2 2024. Order volumes have not been disclosed but we do know that the battery pack cells will utilise an LFP chemistry, specifically tailored for the long-distance travel demands of electric city bus fleets. CaetanoBus plans to use these LFP batteries in city buses and airport shuttles under the Cobus brand - its dedicated range of electric airport buses. CaetanoBus states that it has decided to use CATL due to the long service life and thermal robustness of its LFP batteries.

According to CATL: “The battery is a cell-to-pack design, meaning that the batteries do not require individual modules. By removing the conventional module parts, CATL’s CTP technology increases the battery energy density by 10% to 15%, utilising the bus payload and making it perfect for city and airport transportation.”