Honda today made an announcement that it plans to share a battery sharing service for electric tricycle taxis, also called rickshaws in India. The automaker might start doing this by the first half of 2022 using Honda Mobile Power Pack e (MPP e).
Talking about Honda Mobile Power Pack e or MPP e, it is the brand's all-new portable and swappable battery. It is further capable of storing large amounts of electricity which is more than 1.3 kWH. The MPP e also features body and handle designs that reflect the user friendliness in handling by incorporating user feedback Honda obtained through demonstration testing. Besides this, the MPP e can be utilized as a power source for a broad range of compatible devices. Furthermore, the MPP e comes with a built-in control unit that recognizes the conditions of the swappable battery and records the occurrence of all events. The data can be collected through the connector when the battery is being charged. Post this, it can be utilized for the battery sharing operation and other secondary uses.
“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,” as commented by Minoru Kato, Chief Officer, Life Creation Operations, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
In order to begin this service, the brand is first going to establish a local subsidiary in India to conduct a battery sharing service business. Moving on, the subsidiary is going to install a number of Honda Mobile Power Pack Exchanger e as battery swapping stations and conduct battery sharing service in the city. Besides this, Honda will also work with electric rickshaw manufacturers and begin the service in selected cities first and then expand to other areas in stages.