Honda Motor Company’s subsidiary, Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited (HEID), on Tuesday, said that it has begun the operation of Honda e: swap companies for e-rickshaws on the HPCL petrol stations in Bengaluru.
The Japanese auto main arranged its subsidiary HEID in November 2021 to start battery swap service in India beginning with electrical auto rickshaws. HEID and HPCL signed a memorandum of understanding and business settlement to collaborate within the discipline of E-mobility in February 2022. HEID has arranged its battery exchanger (Honda Power Pack Exchanger e:) at HPCL’s shops in Bengaluru.
“HEID’s battery swap service will enable rickshaw drivers to stop by at the nearest battery stations being set up across the selected cities and swap discharged batteries (Honda Mobile Power Pack e:) with fully charged ones. The use of this service will reduce drivers’ initial cost to purchase EV as well as the range anxiety,” the corporate stated in a media launch.
The battery subsidiary is seeking to arrange swap networks with over 70 stations in Bengaluru within the subsequent one year. “Based on the success in Bengaluru city, the service will be expanded to other major cities in a phased manner,” it stated.
Arata Ichinose, Operation Executive, Business Development Supervisory Unit Head, Honda Motor Co, stated that he appreciated the nice help by HPCL towards HEID’s challenges and emphasized the significance of relationships with all companions.
Kiyoshi Ito, President & CMD, Honda Power Pack Energy India, stated that HEID would concentrate on three actions, that are increasing its battery swap community in Bengaluru, guaranteeing the dependable service with an extremely built-in system monitoring each distinctive battery and exchanger, and supporting automobile producers who’re creating EV that makes use of Honda Mobile Power Pack e:.
Sandeep Maheshwari, Executive Director-Retail, HPCL, stated, “We are one of the biggest Charge Point Operators in the country with 1,058 EV Charging Stations at our retail outlets across the country. HPCL & HEID e: swap Stations will make swapping batteries a breeze for e-auto rickshaws at Bengaluru.
Swappable batteries address the key EV adoption issues such as – high upfront costs, range anxiety, and long charging time. Over 90% of the country’s vehicle sales are of 2Ws and 3Ws. The simplicity of vehicle design and the smaller battery packs needed to power the electric versions of 2/3Ws makes them a prime candidate for swapping.”
