Video: Lego-style EV battery swap in under 10 minutes

An autonomous EV battery swapping station that removes depleted battery modules and replaces them with fully charged ones is being rolled out in California and is expected to go global.

It’s been developed over seven years by Ample and works with any EV, using small robotic machines to swap out empty modular batteries from under the belly of the car and replacing them with fully charged batteries.

“Our batteries are made out of Lego-like modules that can accommodate any vehicle regardless of size or model,” Ample co-founders Khaled Hassounah (chief executive) and John de Souza (president) say.

The depleted battery modules are then placed on shelves where they are recharged.

Ample’s stations require no construction and can be assembled wherever two parking spots are available. 

This makes them a convenient solution for a diversity of locations including grocery stores, gas stations and highway rest stops, Ample says.

Ample uses Modular Battery Swapping to deliver a full charge (100%) in under 10 minutes – about three to 10 times faster than most charging methods.

It also dramatically reduces the cost and time it takes to install EV infrastructure, Hassounah and de Souza say.  

“Our system is designed for rapid deployment, making it possible to equip an entire metropolitan area with a ubiquitous network in a matter of weeks, while delivering energy at a cost as cheap as gasoline.”

Ample can capture wind and solar power when it’s available, and then dispense that energy to EVs when needed.

It is being deployed regionally in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it is working with a wide range of ride sharing, last mile delivery and municipal fleet partners.

The company is a partner in Uber’s electrification strategy, which plans to electrify 100% of rides in Canada, the US, and Europe by 2030.