Ample, a California-based battery swapping company, is launching the ‘Japan Commercial EV Battery Swapping Project’ in Tokyo together with Mitsubishi and Yamato Transport. A fleet of 150 electric trucks and vans will be deployed for daily commercial operations, powered by 14 battery swapping stations located throughout the city.
Ample was founded in 2014 and aims to bring battery swapping technology to the mass market. But unlike companies like Nio, the tech is not limited to one specific manufacturer. Ample has already partnered with Stellantis to power a fleet of shared Fiat 500e cars in Spain, and now the company is collaborating with Mitsubishi to demonstrate its capabilities in the commercial vehicle space.
Battery swapping is more suited to fleets and commercial vehicles
It must be noted that battery swapping makes more sense for large fleets and commercial vehicles, where flexibility is crucial and downtime incurs significant costs. By swapping batteries, vehicles can be back on the road in just five minutes, rather than having to wait for half an hour to multiple hours at a charger.
This is especially true for electric commercial vehicles, which are not yet as developed in terms of technology and charging infrastructure as passenger EVs.
Japan Commercial EV Battery Swapping Project
To eliminate the downtime hurdle for commercial vehicles, Ample has partnered with Mitsubishi Fuso, Mitsubishi Motors, Yamato Transport, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to develop the Japan Commercial EV Battery Swapping Project.
The project will deploy 150 electric Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter and Mitsubishi Minicab-MiEV vehicles across Tokyo, which are fitted with Ample’s swappable battery technology. Ample swap stations are strategically located throughout the city to cover key delivery routes. If the vehicle is running out of juice, a fully-charged battery can be fitted in under five minutes.
Yamato Transport will operate the swappable EV fleet in daily commercial conditions, while the Tokyo Metropolitan Government facilitates rapid infrastructure deployment in alignment with Japan’s climate goals. Japan has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030.
Launching in fall 2025
The Japan Commercial EV Battery Swapping Project is set to enter operations in the fall. Ample is still seeking additional fleet partners to implement its battery swapping system in Japan and worldwide.
