Battery Swapping System Arrives: Electric Cars Charged in 5 Minutes

Electric mobility in Madrid takes a qualitative leap with the official launch of the first modular battery swapping stations by Ample, a leading provider in this technology.

This system, which allows electric vehicles to be charged in just five minutes – as quickly as refueling with petrol – aims to eliminate the main barriers to electric vehicle adoption: charging time, range, and infrastructure scalability.

The uniqueness and main differentiator of Ample's technology lies in its ability to replace depleted batteries with fully charged ones in a matter of minutes. Unlike traditional recharging, which can take hours, this system offers an ultra-fast refueling solution.

Moreover, its modular architecture allows stations to be installed quickly, in just three days, making them an ideal solution for high-density urban environments like Madrid. The system is designed to seamlessly integrate with any electric vehicle model.

In this context, Ample has strengthened its collaboration with Stellantis to deploy a car-sharing service of interchangeable Fiat 500e in Madrid. This alliance includes the Fiat brand, Stellantis' mobility services operator, Free2move, and its specific charging services for customers, Free2move Charge. This pilot project with one of the city's most popular shared vehicle fleets demonstrates the potential of this technology for high-utilization fleets.

The Spanish Government has recognized the role of modular battery swapping in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, selecting Ample as the first winner of the Moves Singulares award for this technology. Ample was awarded for its ability to address urban recharging limitations, support high-utilization fleets, and reduce vehicle emissions in densely populated areas.

"This grant is an extraordinary step for Ample and the electric mobility sector in Spain. By partnering with the Spanish Government, we are not only meeting the immediate infrastructure needs of Madrid's growing population but also laying the groundwork for a sustainable and future-ready urban mobility ecosystem," said Khaled Hassounah, CEO of Ample. "We look forward to working with our partners to get more Ample-powered vehicles on the roads."

Madrid leads the adoption of electric vehicles in Spain, with the highest number of registrations in the country. To meet its goal of reducing emissions by 65% by 2030 and align with Spain's national target of 5.5 million electric vehicles on the road this decade, the city is rapidly expanding its charging infrastructure and exploring solutions like battery swapping.