Huge EV breakthrough as new car could recharge in just ‘5 minutes’ in world first

Fiat has revealed a concept for a new electric car that can recharge in just five minutes, possibly ending one of the biggest headaches around EVs. Electric cars plugged in at public charging bays will typically take around 30 minutes to several hours to fully top-up .

During this time, road users will have to sit around and wait or visit a service station before they are able to get on their way. In stark contrast, petrol and diesel owners can simply top-up in minutes and set off with a full tank in no time at all. However, leading Italian manufacturer Fiat may have the solution with innovative battery swapping technology allowing a simple five-minute recharge.

Working with tech brand Ample, Fiat will provide a series of Fiat 500e EVs with battery-swapping capabilities across the Madrid car-sharing market.

The new tech will allow an EV customer who stops at a swapping station to have their battery changed for a fully topped-up device in minutes.

Chinese firm BYD are also developing their own five-minute charger meaning faster top-ups could soon become more common across the industry.

Olivier Francois, Fiat CEO and Stellantis global chief marketing officer said the brand "believes deeply” in the project.

He added: “At Fiat, we are committed to sustainable mobility. Guided by lateral thinking and a focus on simplicity, this new battery-swapping technology reflects these values.

“It significantly reduces the fear of depleting battery mid-trip and dramatically cuts recharge time, delivering a seamless and effortless experience for drivers.

“We are dedicated to thoroughly testing and analysing this concept in real-world conditions and aiming to expand it to private customers soon.”

Specialists claim swappable battery technology could reduce the upfront total cost of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, customers will benefit from always having the latest battery technology which could see a model’s overall range actually increase over time.

Fiat has planned for an initial rollout of just 40 vehicles but is expected to expand the programme to 100 vehicles later in the year.

It’s clear that frustration with public charging stations could be a major barrier to EV adoption with many still not comfortable operating the plugs.

A 2024 study from Which? found that 68% of EV drivers who regularly use public chargers said they were not happy with the network.

The data shows that 73% had experienced a faulty public charger at least once over the past year.

However, in another major blow, a staggering 37% said it had become difficult to find a working charger when they wanted to top-up.