Charging time can be replaced by a different routine: exchanging a depleted electric motorcycle battery for a charged one. In the system Honda describes, a subscriber finds a nearby station, returns the used pack and collects a charged pack. The rider does not wait for that pack to recharge, but the convenience depends on where stations are located.
Honda says its battery-sharing services operate in Japan, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Vehicles and service providers differ by market. In Japan, the Gachaco joint venture develops infrastructure for standardized swappable motorcycle batteries. Honda’s local company in Indonesia launched a service in March 2025 using the EM1 e: and CUV e: electric two-wheelers. A service using the CUV e: began in Vietnam in June 2026.
The idea is straightforward, but its practical value depends on the entire network: a compatible vehicle, charged batteries in stock and a station along the rider’s route. Battery swapping is therefore more than a different way to charge. It turns energy supply into a separate service and shows why infrastructure is central to everyday electric motorcycle use.