Honda Motorcycles working with Swedish start-up on swappable battery program for EM1 e electric scooter

Honda are looking into the viability of battery sharing on low-capacity electric motorcycles in Europe, with a one-year feasibility study in partnership with a Swedish start-up.

The project will begin in February in the city of Malmö, Sweden and will see Honda working with electric motorcycle and swappable battery firm GoCimo.

• Related: How to pass your CBT

The aim is to assess the viability of a new battery exchange station – both from a business and consumer adoption standpoint. There will be three locations across the city housing batteries for Honda’s £3299 EM1 e urban electric scooter, launched back in mid 2023.

Honda say they will provide 30 EM1 e scoots for the test, as well as 60 Mobile Power Pack e batteries. They will also pick up the after-sales service, should anything go wrong.

“The joint verification test of the battery sharing service with GoCimo will create a new business model for electric motorcycles in Europe,” Daiki Mihara, Operating Executive at Honda Motor Co said. “[This] will be expanded to the entire European region in the future to accelerate the spread of electric motorcycles and Honda Mobile Power Pack e.”

• Related: BMW CE 02 urban scooter review

Established in 2022, GoCimo will be responsible for the battery sharing service, as well as securing the locations for the battery stations. GoCimo are no strangers to tasks like this and have already operated battery sharing services in Stockholm and Gothenburg.

Honda themselves have also already set up battery sharing services in Japan, India, Indonesia, and Thailand – with the new project aimed mainly at business users.

Watch: Honda EM1 e first ride review video