Honda Motor mentioned on Monday it had signed a letter of intent with KTM, Piaggio and Yamaha Motor to arrange a ‘swappable’ batteries consortium for bikes and lightweight electrical autos.
Within the context of the Paris Local weather Settlement and the transition to electromobility, the founding members of the consortium consider the supply of a standardised swappable battery system would each promote the widespread use of sunshine electrical autos and contribute to extra sustainable life cycle administration of batteries used for transport.
“Additionally, by extending the vary, shortening the charging time and decreasing automobile and infrastructure prices, the producers will attempt to reply clients’ important considerations concerning the way forward for electromobility,” the automaker mentioned in a press release.
“The goal of the consortium will, subsequently, be to outline the standardised technical specs of the swappable battery system for autos belonging to the L-category; mopeds, bikes, tricycles and quadricycles.
“By working carefully with stakeholders and nationwide, European and worldwide standardisation our bodies, the founding members of the consortium might be concerned within the creation of worldwide technical requirements.”
The consortium will begin actions in Could 2021.
Noriaki Abe, managing officer, motorbike operations, at Honda Motor, mentioned: “The worldwide electrification effort to scale back CO2 on a world scale is accelerating, particularly in Europe.
“For the widespread adoption of electrical bikes, issues resembling journey distance and charging occasions must be addressed, and swappable batteries are a promising answer. Contemplating buyer comfort, standardisation of swappable batteries and vast adoption of battery programs is significant, which is why the 4 member producers agreed to type the consortium.
“Honda views enhancing the shoppers’ utilization surroundings as an space to discover cooperation with different producers, whereas bringing higher services to clients by competitors.
“Honda will work laborious on each fronts to be the ‘chosen’ producer for buyer mobility.”
