California-based startup Ample has established a global partnership with Mitsubishi Fuso to bolster the electrification of last-mile delivery vehicles, specifically focusing on Mitsubishi Fuso trucks. The collaboration aims to implement Ample’s advanced EV battery swap technology on the trucks, making them available to fleets worldwide.
Ample, driven by its ambitious mission to contribute to one billion electric vehicles on roads worldwide, specializes in modular battery swap stations that efficiently get EVs back on the road. The company commenced the deployment of its first-generation autonomous battery-swapping stations in San Francisco during the spring of 2021, gathering valuable data while collaborating with rideshare companies such as Uber and last-mile delivery startup Sally.
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In May of this year, Ample introduced its second-generation swap station, highlighting that electric last-mile fleet vehicles often spend excessive hours, up to 10-12 per week, idling at charging stations. To address this challenge, Ample incorporated battery swap capabilities for larger EV models and reduced the entire swap process to a mere five minutes.
Throughout this period, Ample has been working discreetly with Mitsubishi Fuso to ensure compatibility with the size of the latter’s electric vehicles, culminating in the announcement of their current partnership.
In a blog post shared this morning, Ample revealed the details of its collaboration with Mitsubishi Fuso, which is primarily owned by Daimler Trucks and currently in the process of merging with Toyota’s Hino Motors to form a publicly-traded holding company.
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The joint effort will equip Mitsubishi Fuso electric trucks with Ample’s innovative modular battery swap technology. The initial rollout of battery-swappable models will commence with the new Fuso eCanter in Japan this winter, as Fuso’s North American business suspended new truck sales in 2020.
Ample expressed excitement over the partnership with Mitsubishi Fuso, praising the company’s dedication to sustainability, including their ambitious goal of achieving a completely carbon-neutral product portfolio in Japan by 2039. The collaboration aims to accelerate the electrification of the last-mile delivery sector, facilitated by Mitsubishi Fuso’s commitment to innovation and strategy.
