Isuzu Motors is working on a three-minute battery swap system for municipal electric garbage trucks in Yokohama. This system aims to eliminate long charging times for commercial vehicles in high demand.

This demonstration project, carried out with the Municipality of Yokohama, will continue until March 2028. The study evaluates whether operational continuity can be maintained without waiting at vehicle charging stations thanks to battery replacement.

Uninterrupted Operation Target in Commercial Vehicles

Since electric garbage trucks have an intense working cycle during the day, charging processes are of critical importance. In the current system in Yokohama, there is a single shift between 07:30 in the morning and 15:30, and during this period, vehicles taking a one or two hour charging break causes operational disruptions.

The system, which Isuzu calls EVision Cycle Concept, treats battery packs as modular and shareable power assets rather than a permanent part of the vehicle. Discharged batteries are replaced with charged ones in approximately three minutes, ensuring that the vehicles remain in the area throughout the day.

This approach also reduces production costs by allowing vehicles to operate with smaller battery configurations. The company will launch this venture under ITOCHU Corp. in September 2025. and sees it as a continuation of the urban logistics experiments it started with FamilyMart.

Sectoral Expansion and Future Expectations

Isuzu isn’t the only manufacturer on the modular power swap; Mitsubishi Fuso is also developing a similar system with Ample for its eCanter trucks. Such projects reveal the direct impact of charging times of commercial vehicles on operational efficiency.

Beyond vehicle efficiency, central battery pools also enable charging management according to grid demand. While this extends the life of battery cells, it opens new ways to utilize end-of-life modules in fixed power storage systems.

This trial by Isuzu stands out as part of a broader decarbonization roadmap that also includes fuel cell commercial vehicle research conducted with Toyota. If the three-minute battery replacement system is successful, the technology is planned to be adapted to other commercial fleets such as street sweepers and construction equipment.

What do you think about this new battery replacement technology?