Madrid Tests Battery Swapping with Fiat 500e
The fleet of Fiat 500e vehicles deployed in the city of Madrid is being used to test Ample’s new battery swapping technology. | Credit: Fiat
Fiat pilots a fast, flexible and scalable solution for electric vehicle fleets
In Madrid, Stellantis is taking electric carsharing to the next level. In partnership with its Free2Move subsidiary and California-based start-up Ample, the automaker has launched a pilot project for battery swapping using a fleet of Fiat 500e vehicles. A first in the shared mobility sector.
The automotive group has made about 40 specially adapted units of its iconic vehicle available to users. These units are equipped to receive Ample’s interchangeable battery module. Over the next few months, this number is expected to exceed 100.
Here, traditional charging stations are replaced by a hub where the vehicle is parked. The swap from an empty to a fully charged battery is fully automated and takes about five minutes. The process is activated through a mobile app.
The Spanish capital currently has five of these stations operating. Each installation consists of a prefabricated module. This means sites can be configured to accommodate more users simultaneously, based on the needs of a fleet or a neighbourhood. This flexibility enables fast and easy infrastructure deployment.
Madrid was not chosen at random for this pilot project. The city is leading the electric mobility push on a national scale. By the end of the decade, it aims to cut emissions by 65% and reach its ambitious goal of 5.5 million EVs on the road.
Ample’s technology is not limited to the Fiat 500e. Since the modular batteries are designed as direct replacements for factory-installed ones, they are compatible with a variety of electric platforms, including those from Stellantis.
The system offers many benefits. In addition to reducing range anxiety, it delivers a quick, seamless and effortless user experience. It also benefits fleet operators by decreasing dependence on charging stations, cutting operating costs, and drastically reducing downtime—which, in turn, increases vehicle availability.
The initial goal of the project was to test the technical and logistical feasibility of the process on a small urban scale, with a view to potential broader deployment.
