On 3 September, the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Power Battery Conference took place in Yibin. During the ceremony, the project to build a zero-carbon transport corridor along the Sichuan section of National Highway 318 was officially launched.

Scene from the Launch Ceremony

To implement the "Transport Powerhouse" strategy, the low-carbon transition under the 15th Five-Year Plan, and the roll-out of new energy heavy-duty lorries, Sichuan is leveraging the G317 and G318, is leveraging the strengths of its full lithium battery industry chain to establish a charging and battery-swapping network, alongside operations, maintenance and smart dispatch systems. This integrated energy-supply network aims to create a zero-carbon transport corridor between Sichuan and Xizang. By adopting a dual-purpose model for both routine and emergency use, the region will utilise green electricity generated on the plateau locally to achieve zero-carbon freight transport on main routes, whilst ensuring the transport of goods and emergency response capabilities. Furthermore, by fostering collaboration with upstream and downstream industries, Sichuan is driving the conversion of its lithium resource advantages into tangible benefits.

With high-altitude electric heavy goods vehicles at its core, the project aims to establish four national-level demonstration benchmarks centred on green and low-carbon development, smart technology, safe and uninterrupted transport, and industrial collaboration. Specifically, the Sichuan section of the project involves an investment of approximately 400 million yuan. The plan includes over 40 integrated photovoltaic-storage-charging-and-battery-swapping stations along the entire route, alongside the establishment of a three-tier operation and maintenance support system and a digitalised management and control platform. By combining a proprietary fleet with collaborative transport capacity from the wider industry, the project aims to foster an electric freight ecosystem. Led by the Sichuan Port Investment Group and CATL, the initiative will engage the entire industrial chain to innovate business models such as the separation of vehicles and batteries, battery banks and carbon finance. The project will be implemented in phases: by 2028, the demonstration section covering Sichuan's lithium mines and the gateway to Xizang will be completed, with 8 to 10 charging and battery-swapping stations operational, over 400 high-altitude electric heavy goods vehicles deployed, and the first phase of the Smart Transport Platform launched; By 2030, the Sichuan section will feature more than 20 charging and battery-swapping stations, achieving full operation of the zero-carbon support system at the Sichuan–Xizang border; by 2035, the project will extend into Xizang, achieving full coverage of stations along the entire Chengdu–Lhasa route and establishing a complete national-level high-altitude zero-carbon transport corridor.