The Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Piaggio, announced on Monday that it is setting up a consortium with Honda Motor Co., Yamaha Motor Co., and the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer, KTM AG, to develop and encourage the use of swappable batteries for electric motorcycles and light electric vehicles.
As the Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium (SBMC), the companies have jointly stated that they aim to broaden the use of light electric vehicles (EVs) like mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles along with the support of the sustainable management of batteries.
The consortium added that it will focus on issues like battery life, infrastructure and cost, recharging time, and defining the international standard technical specification for swappable batteries. It also welcomed other companies to join it.
Piaggio’s Chief of Strategy and Product Michele Colaninno said,
Urban mobility is going through a delicate transition moment towards electrification. Thanks to this consortium, motorbikes will keep their key role.
Honda’s Motorcycle Operations Chief Officer Yoshishige Nomura explained that the consortium’s objective is to make electric motorbikes readily available and convenient for customers as their use on a large scale will contribute to the creation of a sustainable society.
The efforts for the normalization of EVs are ongoing as several automakers are joining forces to formulate solutions to building a more sustainable and affordable EV market for mass customers.
General Motors (GM) recently partnered with Honda to expedite the development of EVs for both their lineups. Likewise, Ford and the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG) have also strengthened their corporate ties to facilitate the development of EVs at their ends.
Additionally, several automakers around the world are now forming such alliances as a part of their vision to develop more environmentally friendly and convenient means of commuting.
