Fiat launches 5-minute battery swap trial

Fiat has begun testing a super-fast battery swapping system that could solve charging problems for drivers without off-street parking.

The Italian brand is collaborating with specialist Ample to trial battery swapping through its Free2move car sharing operation. It says it hopes a successful trial could help remove one of the key barriers to EV adoption – charge times.

The trial is being conducted in Madrid and involves a fleet of 40 Fiat 500e cars fitted with Ample’s modular swappable battery packs. Later this year the trial will expand to include 100 cars and Fiat says it wants to quickly make the technology available to private customers.

Drivers using one of the test vehicles can drive it into the Ample swap station and have their depleted battery removed and replaced with a fully charged unit in just five minutes. A regular 10-80% charge in the 500e would usually take around 30 minutes.

Olivier Francois, Fiat CEO, commented: “At Fiat, we are committed to sustainable mobility. Guided by lateral thinking and a focus on simplicity, this new battery swapping technology reflects these values.

“It significantly reduces the fear of depleting battery mid-trip and dramatically cuts recharge time, delivering a seamless and effortless experience for drivers. We are dedicated to thoroughly testing and analyzing this concept in real-world conditions and aiming to expand it to private customers soon.”

Ample’s modular batteries are designed to act as drop-in replacements for a car’s original cells and can be adapted to fit a variety of models and platforms. This opens the door to other vehicles from Stellantis and other brands using the system.

Battery swapping is still a relatively niche concept but is seen by some as a solution to range anxiety and concerns over charging times. China’s Nio is among the brands leading the battery-swap charge, with more than 3,000 stations in its homeland and around 50 in Europe.