Honda to launch battery swapping service for e-rickshaws

The Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) has a rated voltage of 50.26 V and a capacity of 26.1 Ah or 1,314 Wh.

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. has announced plans to start a battery swapping service for electric rickshaws in India. The Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP), which is a portable and swappable battery will be available from H1 2022.

Honda's battery sharing service will enable rickshaw drivers to stop at the nearest battery-swapping station and swap out the MPP for a fully-charged battery pack. The lithium-ion battery has a rated voltage of 50.26 V and a capacity of 26.1 Ah or 1,314 Wh. The battery pack weighs 10.3 kg and can be charged in 5 hours.

The company plans to set up a local subsidiary, which will oversee the installation of several Honda Mobile Power Pack Exchangers in select cities The service will be expanded to other parts of the country in stages.

With an aim to introduce the battery swapping service next year, Honda had started demonstration testing in India in February 2021. 30 electric rickshaws were driven for more than 2 lakh km to identify issues and verify the business viability.