Ample Modular Battery Swapping for EV Fleets

Ample is a United States company that builds modular battery swapping for electric vehicles, with the goal of making EV energy as fast, cheap and convenient as refuelling with gas. It targets the long charging times, high infrastructure cost and battery degradation that slow fleet electrification.

The battery is made of small modules that fit existing vehicle platforms, so carmakers do not need to redesign their cars. At a station, computer vision and wireless communication with the vehicle identify which modules to remove, robots swap them and a full charge is delivered in under five minutes, while removed modules recharge on shelves. Stations are lightweight, need no construction and can be deployed across a metro in weeks. Ample funds and operates the infrastructure, and fleets pay per unit of energy. Customers and partners include Mitsubishi Fuso, Mitsubishi Motors, Yamato Transport, Stellantis, Free2move, Uber and Repsol.

• Modular battery packs: small swappable modules that fit existing EV platforms without redesign.
• Robotic swap station: delivers a full charge in under five minutes in a drive-through process.
• Vehicle identification: computer vision and wireless communication select the modules to swap.
• Fast deployment: lightweight stations with no construction, often installed in under a week.
• Dynamic battery sizing: fleets pay only for the range each vehicle needs.
• Infrastructure as a service: Ample plans, installs and runs stations while fleets pay per energy used.

Logistics and last-mile delivery companies in Vietnam can electrify light trucks and vans without building large charging depots. Taxi and ride-hailing operators can keep electric cars on the road with five-minute swaps. Fuel retailers can host swap stations at existing service stations, as Repsol does in Madrid.

Fleets have no upfront infrastructure cost because Ample plans, installs and manages the stations and charges only for energy used. A full charge takes under five minutes, and Ample states drivers spend 86% less time than with fast charging and about 15% less per mile than with gas. Since Ample supplies the batteries, fleets are protected from battery degradation and can pay only for the battery size each vehicle needs.

Commercial fleets in dense Asian cities face limited depot space and power for charging. Japan's first large-scale commercial battery swapping project in Tokyo, backed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, shows growing interest from logistics companies and truck makers in swapping as an alternative to building large charging depots.

Received a USD 15 million grant from the California Energy Commission in 2023. Partnerships with Mitsubishi Fuso (2023), Stellantis (2023) and Yamato (2024); Repsol Corporate Venturing is an investor. Named by Time as one of the 100 Most Influential Companies in 2023 and among America's Top GreenTech Companies.