In a move to promote electric motorcycle adoption in Europe, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Swedish startup GoCimo are partnering to commence a 12-month battery sharing service verification test in Malmö, Sweden starting in February 2025.
The purpose of the test is to assess the viability of a battery sharing model in the European market, evaluate the suitability of a new battery swap station, and examine the business feasibility of the service.
For the pilot, Honda will provide the necessary hardware and systems, including 30 units of the EM1 e: electric scooter, 60 Honda Mobile Power Pack e: batteries, and three Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: battery swap stations to be installed at three locations in Malmö. GoCimo, which was established in 2022 to address rising emissions and traffic congestion in the urban logistics sector, will be responsible for operating the battery sharing service, securing customer acquisition and management, as well as identifying suitable locations for the battery exchange stations.
“Honda is promoting the spread of electric motorcycles globally,” said Daiki Mihara, Operating Executive at Honda’s MCPP Elect Biz Dev Unit. “The joint verification test of the battery sharing service with GoCimo will create a new business model for electric motorcycles in Europe, which will be commercialized and rolled out across the entire European region in the future to accelerate the spread of electric motorcycles and Honda Mobile Power Pack e:.”
This initiative in Sweden marks the fifth country where Honda has launched battery sharing services, following previous deployments in Japan, India, Indonesia, and Thailand. The company aims to support the electrification of mobility and contribute to a low-carbon society by expanding its battery sharing services, primarily targeting business users, in major European cities.
“GoCimo has successfully validated the business model for battery-sharing subscriptions for light vehicles in Europe,” said Mattias Tingvall, CEO of GoCimo. “Our customers confirm that our service helps them transition to electric vehicles by lowering the investment hurdle, minimizing downtime due to charging, and improving safety during the charging process. This joint verification test with Honda allows us to further explore the market potential of battery-sharing services.”
The one-year pilot in Malmö will provide valuable insights into the acceptability of battery sharing services in Europe, the suitability of the new battery swap station, and the overall business feasibility of the model. If successful, the partnership between Honda and GoCimo could pave the way for the expansion of battery sharing services across the European continent.
