Mitsubishi’s New EV Trick Could Change the Way We Drive
Mitsubishi has come up with a smart new idea to help electric cars and trucks charge faster. Instead of plugging in for hours, drivers can now swap their EV battery in just minutes. That means no more long waits. It’s as fast as filling a gas tank — maybe even faster.
They are working with two other companies — Ample and Yamato Transport — to test this in Tokyo, Japan. It’s not only for small cars but also for big trucks. These trucks are used for deliveries and city services. This is one of the first times we’ve seen battery swapping used for both types of vehicles at the same time.
What Is Battery Swapping?
Battery swapping means you don’t charge your battery. Instead, you take out the empty one and put in a fully charged one. It takes about 5 minutes or less. Mitsubishi says this is much faster than waiting for a normal charger.
Usually, a truck like the Mitsubishi eCanter needs to charge overnight or for at least 1–2 hours. That means time lost. But with this new system, the truck can be back on the road almost right away. That saves time, money, and keeps businesses moving.
Where Is This Happening?
The plan is starting in Tokyo. Mitsubishi wants to test:
- 150 electric vehicles
- 14 battery swap stations
They’re also testing this with delivery vans like the Mitsubishi Minicab EV. These are small, boxy vans used for short trips around cities. The goal is to see if battery swapping works well for everyday deliveries.
The Tokyo government is also helping support this idea. They want to see cleaner air and less pollution in busy city streets.
Why Is This a Big Deal?
Trucks and delivery vans are on the road a lot. If we want cleaner cities, we need those vehicles to be electric. But many companies worry that EVs take too long to charge. Mitsubishi’s new battery swap idea solves this problem.
Also, in case of natural disasters (like earthquakes), these batteries can be used to send electricity back into the city grid. That’s a bonus for emergencies.
What Happens Next?
If the test in Tokyo goes well, Mitsubishi may bring battery swapping to more places. Maybe even to small towns or big cities in other countries. Right now, they’re focused on proving that this can work smoothly and save time for busy fleets.
In Short:
Mitsubishi’s battery swap idea could make owning and using EVs a lot easier. It saves time. It cuts pollution. And it could change how we charge our vehicles in the future — especially for trucks and vans that can’t afford to wait.
