Ample to set up battery-swapping stations in Tokyo
The focus will thus be on the logistics and commercial sector. At least for now. According to Ample, each station can support “over 100 vehicles,” though the company does not specify the time frame. It is also not clear how many vehicles there will be that are capable of using the technology.
What is known is that the EVs will, in part, come from the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC). Ample and MFTBS announced their cooperation in July 2023 and tested the technology in the Japanese city of Kyoto last year. For the trial, a Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter light-duty truck was fitted with swappable batteries.
By extending the offer to Tokyo, Ample and its partners want to support the electrification of commercial fleets, as well as the city’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. The initiative is backed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Public Corporation.
“Tokyo is one of the world’s most advanced cities in sustainable urban development and one of the largest markets for commercial deliveries, making it the perfect place for our next deployments as we expand our presence in Japan,” said Khaled Hassounah, CEO of Ample. “By providing a fast and scalable solution for commercial fleets, we’re helping the City of Tokyo set an example for how densely populated cities can electrify.
Ample unveiled the latest design of its battery swapping station in 2023. It says that it can swap out batteries in just five minutes. Moreover, the design differs from Nio’s stations, for example. In case of the latter, EVs have to back in. With the Ample station, electric vehicles can drive in from one side and out the other, making it more suitable for commercial vehicles.
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