Fiat is rolling out battery swapping technology that will cut EV recharge times to less than five minutes.

The Italian carmaker has teamed up with EV battery firm Ample and Stellantis-owned mobility firm Free2move for trials of the technology in Madrid on Free2move’s car-sharing scheme.

A fleet of 40 Fiat 500e electric cars have been equipped with Ample’s battery packs, which can be switched at battery-swapping stations, slashing recharge times.

The test fleet will expand to 100 units over the coming weeks, with the aim to expand to private customers soon.

The project will be used to gain data and insights that will play a crucial role in exploring large-scale implementations of Ample technology.

Ample’s modular batteries are designed as drop-in replacements for original EV batteries, enabling compatibility with various electric vehicle platforms, including Stellantis models.

These are combined with fast and easy swapping, where Ample-enabled EVs are automatically recognised at swapping stations and drivers can complete a battery swap via a mobile app in under five minutes.

Fiat said battery swapping offers a flexible and scalable alternative to traditional charging, maximising fleet availability, reducing operational costs and minimising 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.”