Ample is bringing the first-ever EV battery swap stations to Japan
EV battery swap specialist Ample has announced it is bringing the first-ever modular swap stations to Japan with the help of partner ENEOS. The first Japanese swap stations will be erected in Kyoto and used by several local fleets. Ample is a California-based startup specializing in modular battery stations that are easy to install and move, all while occupying a minimal footprint. The company’s goal is to help enable 1 billion electric vehicles on roads worldwide someday. That process began win 2021, when Aaple began deploying its first generation of autonomous battery-swapping stations around San Francisco. From there, it gathered valuable data working alongside rideshare companies like Uber and last-mile delivery startup Sally. By May 2023, Ample had introduced its second-generation swap station, adding accommodations for larger EV models while cutting the entire process from ten to five minutes. This led to new OEM collaborations, including a global partnership with Mitsubishi Fuso and, most recently, an agreement to integrate EV battery swap capabilities into passenger vehicles built by Stellantis. Now, Ample is taking its technology international, introducing its battery swap stations …