Tokyo’s Streets Set for Electric Shake-Up: 150 Battery-Swappable Trucks to Hit the Roads in 2025
Mitsubishi, Ample, and partners announce a bold Tokyo pilot of 150 battery-swappable EVs, aiming to revolutionize urban delivery in 2025.
- 150+ battery-swappable electric vehicles slated for Tokyo
- 5 minutes – target time for a complete battery swap
- 14 modular battery-swapping stations to launch around the city
- Zero downtime – automated swap with no driver exit required
Bold new ambitions are lighting up Tokyo’s logistics scene as Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), Mitsubishi Motors, Ample, and Yamato Transport announce a game-changing pilot program. Starting September 2025, more than 150 commercial electric vehicles — powered by instantly swappable batteries — will transform the pace of urban delivery.
The program marks a major leap forward after a successful pilot in Kyoto, scaling the innovation across Tokyo’s dense urban landscape. The collaboration rallies industry giants behind the mission of slashing emissions, maximizing fleet uptime, and proving that last-mile logistics can be green and lightning fast.
Just five minutes. That’s the goal for a complete battery swap — less than a coffee break, and lightyears faster than traditional charging. Ample’s U.S.-designed, fully automated swapping stations mean drivers stay in their seats while fresh power is delivered beneath them. This smooth process could spell the end for lengthy charging stops and sluggish urban deliveries.
Japan’s leading logistics group, Yamato Transport, is first in line, ready to electrify its fleet with Mitsubishi’s eCanter light-duty trucks and agile Minicab EVs. The latter, a compact kei-car design, is made for weaving through city alleys and tight delivery zones.
But this is more than convenience. Tokyo’s initiative is charged by the city’s own Environment Public Corporation, tying the project into Japan’s ambitious energy transformation and emissions reduction targets. Swapping stations, once dispersed across the city, could double as grid resources, storing renewable power and making Tokyo’s energy use cleaner and smarter.
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Q: How Does Battery Swapping Work for Commercial EVs?
Unlike plugging in to charge, battery swapping involves lifting out a depleted battery and sliding in a charged one — all in a fully automated drive-through station. Drivers don’t need to step outside. The compact stations, built by Ample, can be installed virtually anywhere, making high-turnover logistics hubs more efficient than ever.
Q: Why Is Tokyo the Hotspot for This Electric Revolution?
With its dense population, tight streets, and relentless delivery schedules, Tokyo is the perfect testbed for battery swapping tech. High fleet utilization means every extra minute counts. The project’s rapid-fire swaps cut downtime dramatically, pushing EVs into direct competition with conventional diesel vehicles — and reshaping the city’s carbon footprint.
How to Get Involved or Stay Updated?
The world of EV innovation doesn’t stand still. For those working in logistics, transport, or sustainable technologies, attending major industry events like the Evertiq Expo (Berlin, June 5, 2025) promises rare insights and real networking. Stay informed on industry shakeups and upcoming projects by joining top newsletters or following trusted news sources like Reuters and Bloomberg.
What’s Next for Battery Swapping in Japan?
As the pilot rolls out, eyes are on performance, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. Analysts expect if the Tokyo program succeeds, battery swapping could expand to other megacities — and rapidly change how goods move in 21st-century Japan. Modular stations may soon pop up in other urban centers, supporting not just logistics but also commuter vehicles and energy storage needs.
Ready to ride the wave of EV transformation?
- Track the Mitsubishi and Ample battery-swapping pilot in Tokyo from September 2025.
- Read up on EV tech trends through top news platforms and official manufacturing sites.
- Register for industry events like Evertiq Expo to meet tech leaders and innovators.
- Sign up for leading newsletters to stay ahead of the clean energy revolution.
Don’t miss the world’s fastest-moving electric truck story — bookmark this article and follow upcoming updates on Tokyo’s battery-swapping revolution!
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