Five-Minute Fix: Fiat 500e and Ample Launch Battery Swapping in Madrid

FIAT just flipped the EV game on its head by making “recharging” happen in less time than it takes to grab a coffee. In a bold partnership with battery-swap startup Ample and car-sharing service Free2move, FIAT has launched its first battery-swapping station in Madrid, Spain. And get this: the all-electric Fiat 500e fleet can fully “refuel” in under five minutes.

That’s right. No waiting 30+ minutes for a fast charge. Just pull in, swap out the battery, and go.

This new setup marks a major step forward in making electric cars easier to live with, especially for city dwellers and car-sharing fleets. Instead of plugging in, these cars use modular batteries made by Ample. The batteries are dropped in and out automatically at special swap stations. Drivers don’t even need to get out of the car. The process is app-controlled, quick, and seamless.

FIAT CEO and Stellantis CMO Olivier Francois summed it up perfectly: “This technology simplifies everything. It makes EV driving feel just like a gas car, minus the emissions.”

So far, 40 Fiat 500e cars equipped with Ample’s tech have hit the streets of Madrid, with plans to grow the fleet to 100 by mid-2025. Madrid makes an ideal proving ground—it’s one of Spain’s most EV-friendly cities and is pushing hard to cut emissions by 65% before 2030.

What makes this tech so slick is its flexibility. Ample’s batteries are designed to be plug-and-play replacements for standard EV packs, meaning they could work across many Stellantis brands in the future. And with Free2move Charge backing the project, Stellantis is all-in on seeing where this can go next.

This isn’t just a test run. It’s a glimpse at what large-scale, real-world EV convenience could look like. Imagine never worrying about finding a charging station or waiting in line. Just roll in, swap out, and hit the road again.

Later this month, anyone heading to MOVE 2025 in London can see the tech in action. Stellantis Ventures will have a live demo of Ample’s system on display, alongside other mobility innovations.

If this goes as planned, battery swapping might just be the best thing to happen to EVs since the plug.