Stellantis Ample battery swap EVs are bringing a new level of efficiency to Spain’s electric car-sharing network. By teaming up with Ample’s modular battery-swapping technology, Stellantis will enable 100 Fiat 500e electric vehicles to get a full charge in just five minutes, maximizing uptime and fleet availability.
Stellantis launched this effort through Free2move, its mobility brand, which introduced a pilot fleet of 40 vehicles in Madrid last year. After a full year of smooth operation and successful homologation, the company now plans to grow the fleet to 100 vehicles by mid-2025. Free2move’s leadership sees the partnership with Ample as a way to ensure electric vehicles stay productive throughout the day.
Ample created a modular battery swap system that differs from China’s Nio by focusing on flexibility. Instead of developing different packs for each EV model, Ample built suitcase-sized battery modules that drivers can combine to suit their range needs. A short-distance commuter might only need one module, while a long-distance driver can add more for that trip. This plug-and-play concept keeps costs low and customization easy.
The team at Ample designed the modular batteries to fit directly into existing EVs, eliminating the need for vehicle redesigns. For private EV owners with overnight charging at home, battery swaps offer limited advantages. But fleet operators benefit hugely since charging delays mean fewer hours on the road and lost revenue. Free2move avoids that issue entirely by using Ample’s fast-swapping stations.
Ample’s CEO Khaled Hassounah stressed that keeping vehicles in motion is the key to success. He explained that every idle minute translates into missed earnings, and their five-minute swaps let companies avoid downtime entirely. In just five minutes, drivers are back on the road, serving customers and supporting efficient operations.
Ample rolled out its first-generation swap stations in California in 2021. Those stations completed full swaps in about ten minutes. In 2023, Ample released an upgraded version that halved the time and let passengers stay inside the vehicle during the swap. This improved design boosted convenience and made battery swapping even more attractive for fleet managers.
While charging speeds are improving across the EV industry, Ample’s approach solves a different challenge. It targets operational efficiency for car-sharing and ride-hailing fleets that need maximum availability. Stellantis recognized this advantage and chose Ample to enhance its electric mobility services in Spain.
The Stellantis Ample battery swap EVs initiative proves that modular thinking can accelerate electric vehicle adoption. Instead of waiting for high-speed public chargers to become universal, Free2move is taking control of its infrastructure and maximizing vehicle uptime with quick, flexible swaps.
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