Latest news with #Fiat500e
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Fiat 500e EV Could Get a New Battery as Quickly as a Gas Fill-Up
Spain's car-sharing scene is about to get a jolt. Stellantis, the global automaker behind brands like Jeep, Dodge, and Fiat, has teamed up with San Francisco startup Ample to deploy 100 Fiat 500e EVs equipped with swappable batteries. The cars will be part of Free2move, Stellantis' car-sharing and mobility service in Madrid. Instead of plugging in and waiting around to recharge, these Fiats can drive into a station and receive a freshly charged battery in just five minutes - about the same time it takes to fill up a gas tank. It's a modern take on a concept that's been attempted before, with one major twist: Ample's system uses modular battery packs rather than one-size-fits-all units. What sets Ample apart is the flexibility of its battery system. Each swappable module is roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, and multiple modules can be combined to suit different needs. That means a Fiat 500e doesn't have to carry more battery than necessary - just one module for quick trips, or a full set of four for longer drives. Unlike systems that require bespoke vehicle designs or bulky underbody access points, Ample's batteries are designed to slot into existing EV platforms. This approach makes it easier to retrofit a wide variety of electric vehicles with the swappable tech. It also helps future-proof the system, meaning that as EV technology evolves, Ample can upgrade the modules themselves, not the cars. Battery swapping might not make sense for individual EV owners who charge overnight at home. But in the world of car-sharing and ride-hailing, downtime is the enemy. "For car-sharing fleets, every minute spent off the road is lost revenue," said Khaled Hassounah, CEO of Ample. "We're deeply committed to making Free2move's transition to electric seamless - not just in theory, but in daily operations. Our five-minute battery swaps eliminate charging downtime entirely, helping Free2move keep vehicles available, customers moving, and operations running at full speed." That kind of efficiency is critical for Free2move, which began testing 40 Ample-equipped 500e models in Madrid last year. With the fleet performing well and earning full regulatory approval, Stellantis plans to grow it to 100 vehicles by mid-2025. Ample's first battery swap stations appeared in California in 2021 and could complete a full changeover in about 10 minutes. However, the company has already rolled out a second-generation station that cuts that time in half and enhances the user experience. Now, drivers can remain inside the vehicle during the swap - a small but meaningful upgrade for comfort and convenience, especially in colder or hotter climates. The stations themselves are designed to be modular and quickly deployable, meaning they can be installed in urban environments without massive infrastructure changes. That's a major advantage for cities with limited space or power grid constraints. Battery swapping isn't likely to replace fast charging across the board. Most private EV owners won't need it, and the cost of deploying swap stations at scale is still high. But in dense cities, where fleets need to keep moving and space is at a premium, modular swap stations could fill an important niche. If the Madrid program proves successful, it could serve as a model for other cities and automakers looking to make electric fleets faster, more reliable, and more flexible. For now, it's an ambitious experiment, but if it works, five-minute EV "refueling" could become a lot more common. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Blog
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Fiat 500e EV Could Get a New Battery as Quickly as a Gas Fill-Up
Battery swapping returns — but this time, it's modular Spain's car-sharing scene is about to get a jolt. Stellantis, the global automaker behind brands like Jeep, Dodge, and Fiat, has teamed up with San Francisco startup Ample to deploy 100 Fiat 500e EVs equipped with swappable batteries. The cars will be part of Free2move, Stellantis' car-sharing and mobility service in Madrid. Instead of plugging in and waiting around to recharge, these Fiats can drive into a station and receive a freshly charged battery in just five minutes — about the same time it takes to fill up a gas tank. It's a modern take on a concept that's been attempted before, with one major twist: Ample's system uses modular battery packs rather than one-size-fits-all units. A suitcase-sized solution to EV charging delays What sets Ample apart is the flexibility of its battery system. Each swappable module is roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, and multiple modules can be combined to suit different needs. That means a Fiat 500e doesn't have to carry more battery than necessary — just one module for quick trips, or a full set of four for longer drives. Unlike systems that require bespoke vehicle designs or bulky underbody access points, Ample's batteries are designed to slot into existing EV platforms. This approach makes it easier to retrofit a wide variety of electric vehicles with the swappable tech. It also helps future-proof the system, meaning that as EV technology evolves, Ample can upgrade the modules themselves, not the cars. For car-sharing fleets, time really is money Battery swapping might not make sense for individual EV owners who charge overnight at home. But in the world of car-sharing and ride-hailing, downtime is the enemy. Fiat 500e Ample Battery Swap — Source: Stellantis 'For car-sharing fleets, every minute spent off the road is lost revenue,' said Khaled Hassounah, CEO of Ample. 'We're deeply committed to making Free2move's transition to electric seamless — not just in theory, but in daily operations. Our five-minute battery swaps eliminate charging downtime entirely, helping Free2move keep vehicles available, customers moving, and operations running at full speed.' Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. That kind of efficiency is critical for Free2move, which began testing 40 Ample-equipped 500e models in Madrid last year. With the fleet performing well and earning full regulatory approval, Stellantis plans to grow it to 100 vehicles by mid-2025. Second-gen stations improve speed and user experience Ample's first battery swap stations appeared in California in 2021 and could complete a full changeover in about 10 minutes. However, the company has already rolled out a second-generation station that cuts that time in half and enhances the user experience. 2024 FIAT (500e) RED — Source: Fiat Now, drivers can remain inside the vehicle during the swap — a small but meaningful upgrade for comfort and convenience, especially in colder or hotter climates. The stations themselves are designed to be modular and quickly deployable, meaning they can be installed in urban environments without massive infrastructure changes. That's a major advantage for cities with limited space or power grid constraints. Final thoughts Battery swapping isn't likely to replace fast charging across the board. Most private EV owners won't need it, and the cost of deploying swap stations at scale is still high. But in dense cities, where fleets need to keep moving and space is at a premium, modular swap stations could fill an important niche. If the Madrid program proves successful, it could serve as a model for other cities and automakers looking to make electric fleets faster, more reliable, and more flexible. For now, it's an ambitious experiment, but if it works, five-minute EV 'refueling' could become a lot more common. About the Author Elijah Nicholson-Messmer View Profile
Auto Car
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Five minute full charging is here as Fiat trials battery-swapping tech with its 500e supermini
Close Stellantis is trialling battery-swapping technology with the Fiat 500e in a bid to offer full EV recharging in just five minutes. If the trial is successful, this could eliminate one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership: charging time. Currently taking place in Madrid, the trial involves a small fleet of 40 500es that have been adapted to use a pack (of unspecified size) from battery-swapping firm Ample. The fleet is operated by Stellantis-owned car-sharing firm Free2Move and being driven by users in the city. The cars are currently serviced by a single battery-swapping station, but more are planned to be created in the city as part of the trial, which has been supported by a €9.8 million (£8.2m) grant from the Spanish government. What's more, Stellantis plans to expand the fleet to 100 cars in the coming months. If the trial is successful, the technology will be offered to private customers, promised Fiat CEO Olivier François. 'We are dedicated to thoroughly testing and analysing this concept in real-world conditions and aiming to expand it to private customers soon," he said. 'That is why we believe deeply in this project and have chosen our iconic Fiat 500 to spearhead the initiative. "It will provide invaluable insights for both our brand and the group as we shape the future of mobility.' It's unclear if the trial will be expanded to other Stellantis EVs, given that the 500e is based on a bespoke platform and not the e-CMP EV platform used by Citroën, Peugeot, Vauxhall et al.
Auto Car
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Five minute full charging is here as Fiat trials battery swapping tech with its 500e supermini
Fiat owner Stellantis is trialling battery swapping technology with the Fiat 500e, in a bid to offer full recharge times in just five minutes. If successful, the group said, this could eliminate one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership: charging time. Currently taking place in Madrid, the trial involves a small fleet of 40 500e cars that have been adapted to use a pack (of unspecified size) from battery swapping firm Ample. The fleet are all operated by Stellantis-owned car-sharing firm Free2move and are being driven by users in the city. The cars are currently serviced by a single swapping station in Madrid, but more are planned to be created in the city as part of the trial, which has been supported by a €9.8 million (£8.2m) grant from the Spanish government. What's more, Stellantis plans to expand the fleet to 100 in the coming months. If successful, the technology will be rolled out to private customers, said Fiat CEO Olivier Francois. 'We are dedicated to thoroughly testing and analysing this concept in real-world conditions and aiming to expand it to private customers soon. 'That is why we believe deeply in this project and have chosen our iconic Fiat 500 to spearhead the initiative. It will provide invaluable insights for both our brandand the Group as we shape the future of mobility.' It is unclear if the Stellantis trial will be expanded to other models, given the 500e is currently based on a bespoke platform and not the e-CMP architecture used by the likes of the Vauxhall Cross and Peugeot e-208.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Fiat solves 'barrier for electric cars' with tech that allows battery recharges in FIVE MINUTES
Italian car giant Fiat says it will 'redefine' and monumentally improve electric car ownership in Europe by rapidly speeding up charging times – one of the biggest complaints motorists have regarding switching to EVs. The Turin-based manufacturer hopes to get a head start on rival EV makers with the introduction of a 'technological revolution' that guarantees owners can fully recharge the batteries in their zero-emission cars in just five minutes. It today confirmed its first battery swapping station has opened in Madrid. Launched in partnership with charging solution provider Ample and car sharing service Free2move, it promises to 'break one of the barriers to electrification'. A fleet of 40 Fiat 500e cars are now available in the Spanish city that can access a battery swap station. On arrival, a depleted battery unit can be swapped for a fully charged one in around the same time it takes to fill up a petrol car with fuel. It means Fiat is set to go head-to-head with Chinese EV mega companies Nio and BYD, both of which are also promising full battery recharges in Europe in less than five minutes. By this summer, Fiat says it will have 100 500e electric city cars using the battery swapping station. This will be part of a 'test process' before the technology is 'expanded to private customers soon'. Announcing the move, Fiat's statement reads: 'This collaboration represents a significant step forward in offering a technical solution that further simplifies the use of EVs, while also reflecting the Italian brand's commitment towards promoting urban and sustainable mobility.' Fiat says its diminutive 500e is 'perfectly suited' for use as a battery-swap EV, though its cars have been heavily adapted to be compatible with the stations. They will use Ample's own battery packs instead of the original units installed by the Italian marque. They have been designed to be easy and fast to disconnect from a vehicle's chassis, eject and substitute with another. Ample has been developing its own modular battery pack to be compatible with various EV platforms to become 'drop-in replacements' for the original batteries fitted by respective car makers. How does the technology work? Cars fitted with these universal battery packs are automatically recognised by the swapping stations. Drivers can then use a dedicated mobile app to confirm they want to swap their battery. While full details for how the system removes and replaces the batteries has not been revealed, the collaborating companies promise 'fast and easy swapping' in less than five minutes. It involves the 500e cars being driven onto a raised platform, with robots below removing a depleted battery from the underside of the chassis before loading it will a 100 per cent charged replacement. 'The solution offers a flexible and scalable alternative to traditional charging, maximising fleet availability, reducing operational costs, and minimizing reliance on the charging infrastructure,' the car maker said on Friday. The pilot scheme will be used to assess the efficacy of battery swapping. Ample says learnings will be taken to develop its modular battery tech while Fiat and parent group will gain vital information to understand the importance of developing new vehicles to use modular battery setups with provisions to quickly and simply swap units. Olivier Francois, Fiat CEO and Stellantis Global CMO, 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 analysing this concept in real-world conditions and aiming to expand it to private customers soon. 'That is why we believe deeply in this project and have chosen our iconic Fiat 500 to spearhead the initiative. It will provide invaluable insights for both our brand and the Group as we shape the future of mobility.' Khaled Hassounah, CEO of Ample, said the stations will be fundamental to car sharing fleets where 'every minute spent off the road is lost revenue.' He added: 'We're deeply committed to making Free2move's transition to electric seamless - -not just in theory, but in daily operations. 'Our five-minute battery swaps eliminate charging downtime entirely, helping Free2move keep vehicles available, customers moving, and operations running at full speed.' The 100-vehicle pilot will be utilised to collate data and insight on the efficacy of the swapping station setup and will 'play a crucial role in exploring the large-scale implementations of Ample technology'. The technology will be showcased for the first time on Monday at the MOVE 2025 mobility show hosted at ExCeL London. Over 67 million EV battery swaps have already happened While the technology sounds like an all-new advancement, this isn't the first battery swapping station in the world - or even in Europe. Chinese EV maker Nio has built over 3,400 battery swap stations in its homeland. Over 1,000 of these are located on busy motorways where rapid recharging for longer journeys has been identified as a prime solution for this type of technology. And in May 2022, Nio opened the first of these Power Swap stations in Oslo, identifying Norway as Europe's leader in the transition to electric vehicles, with nine in ten new car registrations being EVs last year. There are now more than 30 of European Nio battery swap stations - some in the Netherlands and Denmark - as part of collaborations with Shell. It says its latest Power Swap 4.0 stations being installed in China now have the capacity to change batteries in just over two minutes - 144 seconds, to be precise - and provide the service to 480 vehicles per day. Incredibly, Nio in February claimed to have completed a staggering 67 million swaps globally since launching its swapping stations. Catl, China's – and the world's – largest battery producer also recently announced it will build a 'battery swapping ecosystem' across the country with support from oil giant Sinopec as the technology becomes increasingly mainstream in East Asia. While Fiat and Nio are driving down a route towards battery swapping, Chinese EV giant BYD is taking a different approach to provide five-minute charges to drivers. This month, it confirmed it will bring its ultra-rapid 'Flash Charger' technology to Europe in the next 12 months. These use a 1,000kW architecture, making them much more powerful than Tesla's Superchargers, which only charge up to 250kW and deliver 172 miles in 15 minutes. BYD's executive vice president Stella Li claims the flash chargers will allow EV drivers to replenish their batteries in just five minutes with the technology described as a 'game changer' that will boost EV confidence and remove range and charge anxiety. Initially, the devices will be installed at BYD dealerships, though other partnerships and locations are currently under consideration.
