Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), Mitsubishi Motors, U.S.-based battery technology firm Ample, and courier service Yamato Transport said on Friday they will launch a multi-year pilot program starting September 2025 to deploy more than 150 electric commercial vehicles and 14 modular battery swapping stations across Tokyo.
The initiative will involve Mitsubishi Fusoās eCanter light-duty electric trucks and Mitsubishi Motorsā Minicab EV, a kei-class small commercial vehicle. The pilot aims to validate the operational efficiency and grid benefits of battery swapping technology at scale in urban logistics.
The move builds on a smaller trial conducted in Kyoto in 2024, where Yamato Transport operated a single eCanter truck using Ampleās battery swapping system. According to the companies, that trial demonstrated the flexibility of the battery-swapping platform across multiple vehicle types and manufacturers. Mitsubishi Motors now joins as an additional vehicle provider in the expanded Tokyo pilot.
āTokyo is one of the worldās 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,ā Ample CEO Khaled Hassounah said in a March statement related to the initiative.
Battery swapping allows commercial EVs to exchange depleted batteries for charged ones in around five minutes, minimizing downtime and enabling greater vehicle utilization. The system also offers advantages in battery management, second-life usage, and recycling logistics. Unlike fast charging, battery swapping stations can recharge batteries gradually during off-peak hours and contribute to grid stability.
The project partners said the pilot is intended āto demonstrate how battery swapping stations can support the real-world demands of commercial EV operators and to establish a backbone for commercial battery swapping in Japanās largest city.ā They also indicated that future deployments of the stations could provide grid services, though no timeline was given.
MFTBC, a joint venture of Daimler Truck and Toyota-backed Hino Motors, was formed in 2023 to accelerate the electrification of commercial vehicles. In Europe, Mitsubishi Fuso captured 9% of the light commercial vehicle market in 2024.
The four companies emphasized that the Tokyo-based project remains open to participation from additional automakers, fleet operators, and logistics providers, as efforts to commercialize battery swapping in Japan continue to gain momentum.