Honda Motor Co. Ltd. has revealed that it has plans of starting a battery sharing service in India. These batteries, which are called Honda Mobile Power Pack e: ( MPP e: ), will be made available for e-rickshaws
Also Read- Ola S1 Electric Scooter Being Manufactured By All-Women Teams
The demand for electric vehicles has been on a rise in India, much of which is owing to the rise in air pollution along with the growth in energy demand. While a lot of efforts are being made for faster adoption of electric transportation, a large challenge that many face is the limited EV-charging infrastructure along with the high cost of batteries.
Many cities have started using e-rickshaws for last-mile connectivity. It is estimated that India has over 8 million auto-rickshaws that are mainly powered by CNG and have enjoyed a higher preference than electric alternatives.
Also Read- Ola S1 vs Bajaj Chetak: Which One to Choose?
As the electric vehicles on sale in the country currently face a three-fold challenge of limited range, long charging time and costly batteries, Honda will now aim to solve these issues by offering battery-sharing through swappable batteries. Honda's battery sharing services for e-rickshaws in India will start in the first half of next year.
This service will enable e-rickshaw drivers to swap a battery for a fully-charged MPP e: battery. Through this, the driver will benefit by avoiding losing business owing to the time it takes to charge batteries. The battery swapping will take place at designated centres called Honda Mobile Power Pack Exchanger e: This service will start in select cities at first and will be expanded to other towns in a phase-wise manner.
Also Read- 7 Upcoming Hero Electric Motorcycles From November-December 2021
Speaking on the company's plans, Minoru Kato, Chief Officer, Life Creation Operations, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. said, Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) has huge potential to electrify all kinds of devices including small-sized mobility products and expand the use of renewable energy. By offering a battery sharing service in India, Honda will contribute to the accelerated electrification of rickshaws and expanded use of renewable energy. Moreover, Honda will continue serving people worldwide with the joy of expanding their lifes potential by further expanding the utilization of the MPP into broader areas.
So, what's your view of Honda's upcoming battery sharing service? Do let us know through the comments section below. Also, join our 91Wheels Telegram and 91Wheels Whatsapp group to know more about vehicles, conduct discussions on your favourite ride and much more! Also, you can subscribe to our Youtube channel for video content on the latest from the world of cars and motorcycles. Also, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more about vehicles!
