Five-minute battery swap shops open in Madrid

Stellantis has partnered with battery technology company Ample to bring modular battery swapping to Madrid’s streets, aiming to revolutionise electric vehicle charging for car-sharing service Free2move through five-minute battery exchanges.

The rollout features a fleet of Fiat 500e vehicles equipped with Ample’s modular battery packs that can be swapped for fully charged units in under five minutes, eliminating traditional plug-in charging downtime while reducing operating costs and increasing vehicle availability.

The project began in the second half of 2024 with an initial fleet of 40 Fiat 500e vehicles, following successful homologation and early operational testing, with around 100 vehicles rolled out so far this year.

“Every minute spent off the road is lost revenue,” said Ample chief executive officer Khaled Hassounah. “Our five-minute battery swaps eliminate charging downtime entirely, helping Free2move keep vehicles available, customers moving, and operations running at full speed.”

Ample’s fully automated battery-swapping system allows drivers to pull into a dedicated station where their vehicle is instantly recognised. Using a mobile app to initiate the swap, the depleted battery is removed and replaced with a charged one – without the driver needing to exit the car.

The modular batteries are designed as drop-in replacements for standard EV batteries, ensuring compatibility across multiple vehicle models and platforms, allowing the same station infrastructure to support a growing variety of electric vehicles over time.

Showcased at the MOVE 2025 conference in London, Ample’s system demonstrated its scalability, speed and efficiency as a solution for urban electric mobility.

Madrid’s EV-friendly infrastructure and climate goals made it an ideal location for the trial; the city aims to reduce emissions by 65 per cent in line with Spain’s national plan to deploy 5.5 million electric vehicles by 2030.

Backed by strong support from the Spanish government, including a $15.85 million grant from the Moves Singulares program, Ample has rolled out the first battery swap stations across the city.

“Madrid is the starting line – and what we build here will shape what comes next,” Ample stated.

The role of Stellantis is supplying the Fiat 500e fleet, chosen for its compact urban design and compatibility with Ample’s modular battery system.

“At Fiat, we are committed to sustainable mobility,” said Fiat chief executive officer and Stellantis global chief marketing officer Olivier Francois.

“Guided by lateral thinking and a focus on simplicity, this new battery swapping technology reflects these values. It significantly reduces the fear of depleting the battery mid-trip and dramatically cuts recharge time, delivering a seamless and effortless experience for drivers.”

Mr Francois added that the company sees this trial as a foundation for potentially expanding the technology to private customers in the future, aligning with a broader strategy to support innovative charging models across its vast portfolio of automotive brands.

“By integrating Ample’s cutting-edge modular battery technology, we are not only reinforcing our commitment to innovation in electric mobility but also providing a scalable solution that meets the high-availability demands of intensive-use companies in urban environments like Madrid,” said Stellantis global head of energy and charge business unit Mathilde Lheureux.

With more than six million users worldwide, Free2move sees this initiative as a game-changer for high-density regions where space and time are at a premium.

“While the experience remains seamless for our customers, this advancement allows our teams to operate more efficiently and sustainably,” said Free2move CEO Ahmed Mhiri. “It’s a major milestone in making electric mobility more convenient, flexible and accessible for everyone.”

In China, EV-maker Nio has completed more than 30 million battery swaps, with plans to expand its network of Power Swap Stations from 1000 to 3000 locations. 

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Gogoro has built a vast network of more than 12,000 swap stations for e-scooters, with plans to expand into India and South-East Asia.

Ample offers a unique approach with its non-proprietary modular batteries designed to fit a wide range of EV platforms. This adaptability reduces strain on traditional charging infrastructure, supports off-peak recharging for enhanced grid stability and paves the way for broader adoption of battery swapping technology.