Ample’s battery-swap stations could help get more EVs on the road. Drive-in bays robotically swap drained batteries for fully charged ones in just five minutes, the company claims. The process can work in different vehicle models using adapter plates, so scaling the strategy requires close cooperation with vehicle makers; CEO Khaled Hassounah says the company is working with five automakers, including two major global ones. He thinks the booming consumer EV market needs swapping to grow even as plug-in charging expands and gets faster (it currently takes at least 30 minutes). This year, Ample got a $15 million grant from the California energy commission to boost production.
A weekly newsletter featuring conversations with the world’s top CEOs, managers, and founders. Join the Leadership Brief.
- Introducing the 2024 TIME100 Next
- The Reinvention of J.D. Vance
- How to Survive Election Season Without Losing Your Mind
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Scams
- Did the Pandemic Break Our Brains?
- The Many Lives of Jack Antonoff
- 33 True Crime Documentaries That Shaped the Genre
- Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women
