Four-Headed EV Hydra
KTM just sent the WBW team a pretty little press release detailing “the creation of a swappable batteries consortium for motorcycles and light electric vehicles”. KTM has got Honda, Yamaha, and Piaggio involved in the deal, and this should hopefully push our EV future even further into the age of tech and accessibility.
What does this mean, and how can it improve your riding experience? That’s easy; for starters, having the ability to swap batteries out on-the-go will add a huge level of accessibility to the EV vehicle market. With so many of the world’s leading OEMs being a part of this consortium, I could see the possibility of battery stations popping up in bike-dense areas. Imagine a gas station, but instead of filling up fuel or recharging your battery you can plug-and-play a newly charged battery to help you get to your destination.
This deal will define the standards and specs for vehicles in the “L-category” per the official release. This will include mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles.
Having multiple R&D teams at different companies working towards the same mutual goal of providing customers with a standardized battery designed for longevity and range will bring a ton of technological advancement to the battery industry. At the end of the day, this “consortium” will be a win-win for both the customer and the OEM involved.
Stefan Pierer, KTM AG’s CEO said in the official statement: “Sustainability is one of the key drivers to the future of mobility and electrification will play a major role in achieving this goal. For powered two-wheelers the constraints of electric drivetrains regarding range, charging time and initial cost are still evident. To overcome these challenges and provide a better customer experience, a swappable battery system based on international technical standards will become a viable solution. Considering the entire lifecycle, a widespread application of batteries compliant with a common standard will support secondary use as well as circular economy. We are glad to be part of the Consortium as we strive towards our goals in the e-mobility sector.”
