FIAT redefines the rules: recharge in less than five minutes. The first swapping station by Ample and a fleet of Fiat 500e by Free2move is now in Madrid

• FIAT introduces a real technological “revolution”, the battery swap, thanks to the collaboration with Ample and Free2move, breaking one of the barriers to electrification with a recharging time of just 5 minutes.
• In the initial phase, the initiative aims to test the process in Madrid through the installation of a station by Ample supporting the new battery swapping technology, and the aim is to expand to private customers soon.
• A fleet of Fiat 500e by Free2move is already in operation in Madrid, and it is set to expand to 100 units by mid 2025.

FIAT is proud to announce the rollout of the partnership with Ample, taking the lead in bringing modular battery swapping technology to the Madrid car-sharing market in collaboration with Free2move, a leading mobility solutions provider. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in offering a technical solution that further simplifies the use of electric vehicles (EVs), while also reflecting the Italian brand’s commitment towards promoting urban and sustainable mobility. FIAT is providing a fleet of Fiat 500e, perfectly suited to accommodate the swappable battery packs provided by Ample. The brand identified the 500e as the ideal vehicle to interact with Ample’s innovative battery exchange system, enabling a full recharge in just under five minutes. The solution offers a flexible and scalable alternative to traditional charging, maximizing fleet availability, reducing operational costs, and minimizing reliance on the charging infrastructure.

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 analyzing 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 500e to spearhead the initiative. It will provide invaluable insights for both our brand and the Group as we shape the future of mobility”.

Madrid, a leader in EV adoption in Spain, provides an ideal setting for this pilot. The city’s commitment to reducing emissions by 65% by 2030 and supporting Spain’s target of 5.5 million EVs by 2030 underscores its dedication to cleaner, more innovative mobility solutions. This strategic partnership is designed to assess the operational efficiency of Ample’s battery swapping solution and generate valuable insights for Ample, FIAT, and Stellantis. In the second half of 2024, the Fiat 500e served as the perfect test bench to adapt and integrate Ample’s technology. After an initial rollout of 40 vehicles and successful homologation, the fleet is set to expand to 100 units by mid-2025.

Ample’s battery swapping technology addresses key EV challenges by boosting fleet availability, cutting charging times, and reducing reliance on charging infrastructure. This revolutionary solution works through seamless integration of its modular batteries, designed as drop-in replacements for original EV batteries, enabling compatibility with various electric vehicle platforms, including Stellantis models; combined with fast and easy swapping, where Ample-enabled EVs are automatically recognized at swapping stations and it is possible to complete a battery swap via a mobile app in under five minutes.

In collaboration with Free2move Charge, the Stellantis division dedicated to Charging & Energy Solutions, the Italian brand is committed to drawing from this first project data and insights that will play a crucial role in exploring the large-scale implementations of Ample technology.

At MOVE 2025, the world’s premier event for tech and sustainable mobility, taking place June 18–19 at ExCeL London, Stellantis Ventures will host an interactive booth featuring pioneering solutions: among these, it will also be exhibited a live demo of Ample’s modular battery-swapping system.