Initially just for use by the fleet of 10 Renault Fluence Z.E. taxis, operated by Dutch private hire operators Connexion, Bios and TCA, the station allows depleted batteries to be swapped for fully charged ones within minutes. In turn, this means the taxis can work virtually around the clock, with no need to stop for hours at a time to recharge.

The station serves one of the busiest transport routes in the Netherlands, with over 700,000 taxi journeys per year originating at Schiphol Airport. Initially installed just for use by the taxis, a second battery swap station is planned for central Amsterdam to extend the trial’s service area.

Better Place already has a network of stations around Israel, where the company is based, and recently completed a lap around the country in a Fluence Z.E. stopping to swap batteries en route instead of charging. The 713-mile route was completed in 16 hours.

Denmark also has a network of stations, connecting Copenhagen to Aarhus, one of the country’s most used routes, with 13 more planned by the end of 2012.