Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium in Europe
By Ben Purvis
Having signed a letter of intent to work together earlier in the year, Honda, Yamaha, Piaggio and KTM have now officially signed up to create the Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium (SBMC) in Europe, with the aim of standardising the battery packs used by future electric motorcycles and scooters.
The SBMC in Europe comes on the heels of a similar consortium between the four Japanese manufacturers, which has now established a 48V standard for electric bike batteries in Japan and Asia. Although future electric bikes don't have to use the standardised battery, those that do will be able to swap their battery packs with others - creating a viable market for filling stations or other shops to stock and recharge the packs.
Once such infrastructure is in place, it eliminates the prospect of long recharge times and the range anxiety that comes with electric bikes, as refilling them becomes a simple, fast and clean job of switching the spent battery packs for readily available fresh ones. It's arguably easier and quicker than filling a fuel tank.
Swappable batteries and a solid infrastructure ease the pressure on manufacturers to create longer-range electric bikes, allowing them to make smaller, lighter and cheaper machines with shorter ranges in the knowledge that customers won't be left stranded. The idea also opens the door to riders effectively leasing their batteries rather than buying them, potentially reducing the up-front cost of electric motorcycles.
Both KTM and Piaggio already have electric motorcycle projects well underway. The Italian company sells the Vespa Elettrica and recently launched the Piaggio 1 electric scooter, while KTM is on the verge of launching the Duke-based E-Pilen under its Husqvarna subsidiary brand, as well as a matching scooter, using a platform developed with its partners Bajaj in India. Notably, both companies, like Honda and Yamaha, have already settled on the idea of using 48V battery packs - and multiple packs when more performance and range is needed - with swappable technology, so standardising the batteries makes a lot of sense.
The SBMC is specifically setting out to develop, make and promote a standardised battery specification in Europe, meeting regulations and standards here, and then to expand to a global level. Whether the specifications will be shared with the Japanese standard remains to be seen, but it would be a logical step, as it would effectively bring Suzuki and Kawasaki into line as well. The SBMC's founding members are also actively encouraging other interested stakeholders, whether they're motorcycle manufacturers or battery companies, to join the cooperation, so the group may yet grow.