Stellantis and Ample have partnered to integrate Ample’s Modular Battery Swapping Solution into Stellantis electric vehicles. The goal: An EV driver can stop at a battery swapping station and have their car’s battery swapped out for a fully charged battery in minutes. Here are the details on the Stellantis–Ample EV battery swapping deal.

About Ample and the Swapping Process

You probably already know all about the car manufacturer Stellantis, but you may not know about Ample. Ample is a San Francisco based company with a goal to increase the adoption rate of electric vehicles. The company, founded in 2014, is pioneering a new method of EV energy delivery through battery swapping. Ample batteries are designed to be a drop-in replacement for an electric vehicle’s original battery. This technology is a way to make the refueling experience as fast and convenient as refueling with gas. And the rollout of Ample stations is very quick. The company’s light-weight battery swapping stations can be deployed in as little as three days. When an Ample-enabled EV approaches the Ample station, the vehicle is immediately recognized by the station. Once parked inside, the driver initiates the battery swap from the mobile app resulting in a fully charged battery in less than five minutes.

Fast and Cost-Effective is the Goal

The whole idea behind Ample’s modular battery swapping solution is for it to be fast and cost-effective. This minimizes the time when the electric vehicles is out of service. Ample’s battery technology would be available to EV customers on a subscription service basis. The reasoning behind this is to reduce the upfront total cost of the vehicle. Additionally, it allows the customer to benefit from always having the latest battery technology. This would effectively increase the EV’s range and lifespan.

The Program Will Begin in Spain

Stellantis and Ample are working toward integrating Ample’s Modular Battery Swapping solution into Stellantis vehicles. Furthermore, the two companies are discussing how Ample’s technology can meet Stellantis fleet and consumer demand across the company’s platforms in various locations. The Stellantis-Ample program is planned to begin in Madrid, Spain in 2024. It’ll be used for a fleet of 100 Fiat 500e’s that are part of Stellantis’ Free2move car sharing service.

Freedom of Mobility is the Driving Force

Stellantis is exploring all ways of making EV ownership as easy as possible. “The partnership with Ample is another example of how Stellantis is exploring all avenues that enable freedom of mobility for our electric vehicle customers,” said Ricardo Stamatti, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Charging & Energy Business Unit. “In addition to other projects we are focused on, Ample’s Modular Battery Swapping solution has the opportunity to offer our customers greater energy efficiency, outstanding performance and lower range anxiety. We are looking forward to executing the initial program with our stellar Fiat 500e.”

EV Accessibility Without Compromises

Ample’s goals are to further EV ownership. “At Ample, we believe in the importance of making electric vehicles accessible to everyone without compromises, which is the only way that we will make a significant impact on lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Stellantis’ ambitious electrification goals, its range of electric vehicles, and the commitment of its leadership, make Stellantis a perfect partner in achieving our goals,” said Khaled Hassounah, CEO of Ample. “The combination of offering compelling electric vehicles that can also receive a full charge in less than five minutes will help remove the remaining impediments to electric vehicle adoption. We look forward to working with Stellantis to deploy our joint solution across communities around the world.”

The Bottom Line

Some within the EV world have argued for years that battery swapping services need to happen on a mass scale to improve the electric vehicle driving experience. It makes a lot of sense to quickly swap out depleted batteries for charged units. Especially while traveling long distance. It’ll be interesting to see where this goes, how many stations pop up, and the cost for the service.