Mitsubishi is investing in battery swapping for electric vehicles (EVs) by partnering with Ample to expand the reach of the technology globally.
The $25 million investment in Ample will help the company to scale battery-swapping infrastructure globally. Currently, the company is testing the technology in Japan. Ample said the collaboration with Mitsubishi is designed to further cleaner transportation infrastructure.
Part of the investment is due to Mitsubishi’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and hit net zero by 2050. The company is investing in other projects like energy harvesting, wing and solar farms and more.
What is battery swapping?
Battery swapping is the process of replacing a depleted automotive battery in an EV with a freshly charged one at battery swapping stations. Instead of waiting to charge a battery in the vehicle, battery swapping purportedly will allow for faster charging of EVs compared to traditional methods.
While these stations may need more infrastructure the technology allows for:
- Standard batteries that are easily removable and swapped.
- Automated facilities that charge the depleted battery after swapping.
- A subscription-based service or a pay-per-swap, removing the need for owning a battery.
