Latest news with #Stellantis
Miami Herald
4 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
4 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
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ford Recalls Its Electric Mustang Because The Doors Don't Do Their One Job
When it comes to recalls of cars sold in America, Ford, Stellantis, and Tesla led the way in 2024 with the most. This year, Ford may retake the title. It recently issued a single recall for almost 1.1 million vehicles, and now there's a new one that affects 197,432 Mustang Mach-E electric crossovers in America and another 120,000-odd from other markets. According to The Detroit News, these EVs may lock themselves with no workaround, which could trap people inside the car or prevent them from entering it. According to the recall documents filed with the NHTSA, the problem occurs when the vehicle has a low 12-volt battery, and then "the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door." If a child is left in the car when this happens, they may be unable to take advantage of the inner door release handles. Worse still, the car may still not unlock when the 12-V battery is jumped. One Mustang Mach-E Forum user reported that his infant was locked in the car for 40 minutes because of this same sort of problem. While Ford works on a remedy, it has issued a stop-sale recall, so there are likely still affected units at dealers. Thankfully, the fault lies in the vehicle's software, so this won't require a physical fix at the dealer. Ford will update the affected 2021-2025 EVs' powertrain control module and secondary on-board diagnostic control module C software at no cost, and owners should expect notification letters to be mailed on June 23. Once Ford has figured out exactly what to do, it will send a second letter, but unfortunately, the automaker only expects the fix to be ready on September 29. On the surface, software seems like something that shouldn't only go wrong when the car reaches users, but test engineers don't usually test new cars with old or weak 12V batteries. Ford's general quality problems will take years to fix, but the automaker is making efforts, and hopefully, it will fall a little further on the recall leaderboard when 2025 comes to a close. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Blog
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Ford Recalls Its Electric Mustang Because The Doors Don't Do Their One Job
Faulty Door Locks Could Lead To Fallout When it comes to recalls of cars sold in America, Ford, Stellantis, and Tesla led the way in 2024 with the most. This year, Ford may retake the title. It recently issued a single recall for almost 1.1 million vehicles, and now there's a new one that affects 197,432 Mustang Mach-E electric crossovers in America and another 120,000-odd from other markets. According to The Detroit News, these EVs may lock themselves with no workaround, which could trap people inside the car or prevent them from entering it. Self-Locking Happens In Certain Scenarios According to the recall documents filed with the NHTSA, the problem occurs when the vehicle has a low 12-volt battery, and then 'the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door.' If a child is left in the car when this happens, they may be unable to take advantage of the inner door release handles. Worse still, the car may still not unlock when the 12-V battery is jumped. One Mustang Mach-E Forum user reported that his infant was locked in the car for 40 minutes because of this same sort of problem. While Ford works on a remedy, it has issued a stop-sale recall, so there are likely still affected units at dealers. A Simple Fix, But A Long Wait Thankfully, the fault lies in the vehicle's software, so this won't require a physical fix at the dealer. Ford will update the affected 2021-2025 EVs' powertrain control module and secondary on-board diagnostic control module C software at no cost, and owners should expect notification letters to be mailed on June 23. Once Ford has figured out exactly what to do, it will send a second letter, but unfortunately, the automaker only expects the fix to be ready on September 29. On the surface, software seems like something that shouldn't only go wrong when the car reaches users, but test engineers don't usually test new cars with old or weak 12V batteries. Ford's general quality problems will take years to fix, but the automaker is making efforts, and hopefully, it will fall a little further on the recall leaderboard when 2025 comes to a close. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Toronto Sun
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
Stellantis ramps up gas-powered vehicle production at Windsor Assembly
The Windsor-built Dodge Charger is shown at the Detroit Auto Show on January 10, 2025. Photo by Dan Janisse / Windsor Star Ramping up production of the gas-powered, two-door Dodge Charger Daytona this month is a sign of an increased focus by Stellantis on internal-combustion options produced at the Windsor Assembly Plant. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Production of the gas-powered four-door Charger is expected to accelerate this fall. 'Production started in June and we'll see quadruple digits of the (gas-powered) two-door Charger in September,' said AutoForecast Solutions vice-president of global vehicle forecasting Sam Fiorani. 'The four-door will hit volume in quarter three. Production will really start in October.' The new generation Charger was first made available in electric versions, but market conditions and President Donald Trump's changing of emission standards in the U.S. has given Stellantis some flexibility in using more internal combustion engines (ICE). The 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack electric model will continue to be available, but the company has paused production of the lower powered R/T Charger EV for 2026. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The (Charger) EV rollout was relatively uneventful,' Fiorani said. 'It's a great product, but the market for that vehicle wants gas-powered engines. 'The changing emission regulations in the U.S. have allowed for more gas-powered engines. 'The focus on the ICE variants is going to be much stronger than it had initially been planned. 'They've invested a lot of money in Windsor and getting those lines up and running is crucial. It's likely the gas-powered variants will appeal to fleet buyers as the old Charger did, especially to police package companies.' Fiorani expects the gas-powered Chargers to also do very well in the retail market. 'It's a strong design,' Fiorani said. 'It's got a throwback look and it's a very large vehicle. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It'll appeal to a lot of buyers as long as you have the right power train.' Stellantis will offer two versions of the 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged Hurricane straight-six engine being used in its gas-powered Chargers. The Charger Sixpack H.O. will produce 550 horsepower while the Sixpack S.O. is rated at 420 horsepower. The Hurricane inline six engine, which was introduced in 2022, is made at Stellantis's Saltillo Engine Plant in Mexico. 'The Hurricane engine is an excellent power train,' Fiorani said. Fiorani believes Stellantis will look to expand its ICE offerings at Windsor Assembly beyond the Hurricane engine. Stellantis engineers have been at Windsor Assembly studying if the STLA large platform used to build the Charger can handle a Hemi V-8 engine. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Chrysler Corporation created the famed Hemi V-8 in 1951 and is restarting its hemi program at its Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan. The company is reportedly going to manufacture the Hemi in three versions – the 5.7-litre, 6.4-litre and Hellcat. Read More Sources have told the Star that Stellantis is also exploring offering the high-performance Hellephant engine that produces 1,000 horsepower in the Charger. 'We haven't seen the Hemi V-8 yet,' said Fiorani of the future production data that projects out to about 18 months. 'That (Hemi) is expected if it fits on the (STLA large) platform. 'We haven't seen any of that engineering information showing it fits in the platform yet. The revival of the Hemi makes perfect sense.' 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