/ News

Yamaha, Honda, KTM, and Piaggio form a Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium

Still accepting members, by the way!

Earl Lee Earl Lee on Sep 08, 2021
Yamaha Honda KTM Piaggio Consortium

Electric mobility is on the rise in most parts of the world, and all the major manufacturers are riding the wave of the future. Currently, the world is experiencing a rapid change in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Many companies are crawling out of the woodwork to be first to the market with their very own products that cater to consumers looking to ride the wave of the future. 

Related:
5 most popular hybrid bikes globally

However, several concerns regarding electric vehicles such as long charge times and limited ranges are to be addressed by big names like Yamaha, Honda, KTM, and Piaggio. 

The Letter of Intent signed by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., KTM F&E GmbH, and the Piaggio Group all progress toward the creation of the Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium (SBMC), where all these big-name marques will work together to promote widespread use of light electric vehicles. 

This agreement seeks the enhance and encourage the use of scooters, motorcycles, trikes, and quads as well as sustainable battery lifecycle management. The founders of the Consortium believe that a commonly-developed battery system to power these new vehicles will be able to help the widespread adoption of these lightweight electric vehicles on multiple fronts throughout the world. 

As for the consortium’s goals, the agreement signed indicates that all companies will develop common technical specifications for the swappable battery systems, confirm the common usage of the said battery systems, make and promote the common specifications under the Consortium which adheres to European and international standards, and finally, expand the use of the battery system’s specifications on a global level. 

Standardization of these systems could quell quite a few questions and concerns that consumers may have before hopping on the electric bandwagon. Working closely with stakeholders and standardization bodies around the world, the founders of the consortium will be in charge of creating and developing the technical standards to be used in future EVs. These four groups, Yamaha, Honda, KTM, and Piaggio, are the founders but are still accepting more companies to join for a more sustainable electric future. 

Tagged Under

Related Articles

Latest News