Electric vehicles are growing in popularity, but lengthy recharging times are one of their biggest drawbacks. To address the problem, Fisker and Ample are joining forces to bring swappable battery packs to the Ocean.
Details are limited, but the companies said development is already underway and their goal is to have crossovers with swappable batteries by the first quarter of 2024. That’s less than a year away, and Fisker said the technology will enable drivers to get “energy delivered as quick as gasoline and at a lower per-mile cost.”
The company went on to say swappable batteries should appeal to high mileage drivers such as those in the ride-hailing industry. EV batteries degrade over time and can cost a fortune to replace. However with swappable batteries, this isn’t an issue for owners.
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Fisker said their swappable battery Ocean will be targeted at “fleet operators who are looking to transition to electric mobility without economic or operational compromises.” The company went on to say, “Ample’s technology makes it possible to rapidly deploy EV infrastructure so that Fisker can make its vehicles available to larger markets on a faster timetable.” The automaker added they’ll share revenues from the “battery swapping mechanism” with their new partner.
In a statement, CEO Henrik Fisker said “We’re thrilled to offer Ample’s innovative battery-swapping system, which will bring a new level of affordability to the Fisker Ocean and potentially to the other vehicles we intend to bring to market in the future.” His sentiments were echoed by Ample CEO Khaled Hassounah, who remarked “We’re looking forward to assisting with making the Fisker Ocean available to a wide segment of customers as a part of our goal to bring more EVs on the road.”
As a refresher, Ocean deliveries are slated to begin in Europe on May 5. The model will then come to the United States later this year.
