World’s largest battery maker CATL looks to dominate electric shipping
In China, the Financial Times reports, CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, is pushing to electrify parts of the global shipping fleet, having deployed batteries on around 900 vessels so far, mostly smaller craft operating close to the Chinese coastline.
The company controls 37% of the EV battery market and is now doubling its marine team to around 500 people this year. Its focus is on batteries capable of surviving the demands of ocean conditions, including long cell lifespan and fire safety at sea.
CATL is developing a battery-swap model for vessel operators, mirroring its highway network for trucks in China, which would remove battery costs from vessel acquisition. Municipalities such as Guangzhou have begun offering subsidies for battery-powered vessels.
Deep-sea electrification remains distant. A 2024 study by the Maersk Zero Carbon Shipping Center found that hybrid systems combining batteries with conventional engines offer the most realistic near-term path.
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
