Japan / USA - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), headquartered in Kawasaki in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, announced it will launch a multi-year pilot programme in September 2025 in partnership with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Yamato Transport Company Ltd, and US-based Ample Inc, to deploy battery-swappable electric commercial vehicles and battery swapping stations across Tokyo. This new initiative, which is to focus on last mile deliveries, follows the launch of a smaller-scale battery-swapping pilot project in Kyoto last year involving the same partners.

The new project involves deploying more than 150 battery-powered commercial vehicles, including the MFTBC’s eCanter and Mitsubishi Motors’ Minicab EV, fitted with swappable battery systems. Japanese logistics company, Yamato Transport, which has significant experience with electrified vehicles, is to operate the delivery vehicles. Ample is to provide the on-board battery swapping systems and is to install and build and operate 14 swapping stations.