Honda and peers to standardize swappable motorcycle batteries

Move by Japan's Big Four to cut costs of cells in boost to decarbonization

20210326N Scooter battery

Honda Motor, Yamaha Motor, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Suzuki Motor have been field testing battery swapping stations in Osaka Prefecture since August. (Photo courtesy of Osaka University)

TSUYOSHI TAMEHIRO, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Honda Motor and three domestic rivals will develop standardized interchangeable batteries for their electric motorcycles, as the wave of decarbonization spreads to two-wheeled vehicles, the Japanese companies said Friday.

The so-called Big Four, which also includes Yamaha Motor, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Suzuki Motor, hold roughly half the global market share for motorcycles, and their move will likely provide a significant boon to the spread of electric scooters and motorcycles worldwide. In addition to the batteries, the companies also plan to standardize chargers.

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