Changan is gearing up to introduce its first electric vehicle with battery swap technology, as revealed in recent homologation filings. The upcoming model, known as the Changan Oshan S20 sedan, is essentially an all-electric version of the Changan Nevo A05 plug-in hybrid vehicle. Interestingly, Changan has decided to launch the electric variant under its Oshan sub-brand.
While the official name of the new battery-swapping EV has not been confirmed, the homologation documents indicate the presence of the S20 badge on the rear of the vehicle. Despite some speculations suggesting it could be read as “520,” the Oshan sub-brand typically follows a naming convention of a letter followed by a number. Therefore, we will refer to it as the Oshan S20 for now.
The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for the Oshan S20 is supplied by United Auto Battery Co. Ltd., a joint venture between CATL and SAIC. Unlike Nio’s batteries, which are compatible with its swap stations and provided by CATL only, we do not anticipate the Oshan S20 being able to utilize Nio’s battery swapping infrastructure.
In terms of specifications, the Oshan S20 is a mid-size sedan with dimensions measuring 4770/1840/1470 mm and a wheelbase of 2765 mm. It weighs approximately 1,535 kg and is powered by a single motor with an output of 105 kW, enabling a top speed of 135 km/h. This suggests that the S20 will cater to the entry-level segment of the EV market.
Production of the Oshan S20 will take place at Changan’s plant in Chongqing, with the vehicle set to be the first EV from Changan to feature battery swap support. The partnership between Changan and Nio for battery swapping infrastructure sharing was announced in November last year, making Changan the first partner for Nio in this endeavor.
As the homologation application has been submitted to the regulator under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MITT), the launch of the Oshan S20 is imminent. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new electric vehicle from Changan.
