Honda to launch e-trike battery-sharing services in India

In a recent press release, Honda has announced its plans to launch a battery-sharing service for electric tricycle taxis (rickshaws) in India. The said battery-sharing initiative is slated to run in the first half of 2022, using the Honda Mobile Power Pack e: (“MPP e:”), the Japanese automotive brand’s all-new portable and swappable batteries.

“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 life’s potential by further expanding the utilization of the MPP into broader areas,” said Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Chief Officer, Life Creation Operations Minoru Kato.

Honda aims to address the issues of energy demand and air pollution in India. Honda joins the country’s efforts to expand the utilization of renewable energy and to actively pursue electrification of the transportation sector, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Honda, there are more than eight million units of auto-rickshaws in India, and they are powered mainly by CNG (compressed natural gas) and have been a key challenge for electrification.

In order to contribute to India’s effort to accelerate electrification and expand the use of renewable energy, Honda Honda will start a battery-sharing service for electric rickshaws, using MPP e: in the first half of next year.

Honda already began testing the MPP e: with 30 units of electric rickshaw taxis driven for a total of more than 200,000 km in operation.

The battery sharing service will enable rickshaw drivers to stop by at the nearest battery swapping stations to swap an MPP e: with a low remaining charge for a fully-charged MPP e:.

Honda’s MPP e: measures approximately 298mm × 177.3mm × 156.3mm and will weigh at least 10.3kg. The 50.26-volt battery will have a 26.1Ah/1314Wh rated capacity and will take around five hours to charge.

Honda also reveals that it will establish a local subsidiary in India to conduct a battery-sharing service business. The subsidiary will install a number of Honda Mobile Power Pack Exchanger e: as battery swapping stations and conduct battery sharing services in the city. Honda will work with electric rickshaw manufacturers and begin the service in selected cities first and then expand to other areas in stages.

Photos from Honda

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