Honda and LG Energy Solution Launch Battery-Swapping E-Motorcycle Pilot with Hanoi Government

Honda and LG Energy Solution have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hanoi People's Committee to jointly advance a battery-swapping electric motorcycle business in Hanoi, Vietnam. The project is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2026, by which time approximately 50 battery swap stations will be built and nearly 500 electric motorcycles and scooters deployed. Under the agreement, LG Energy Solution will supply 2170-type cylindrical battery cells and develop backend infrastructure, including safety systems, swap station operations, and full lifecycle battery management. Honda will provide electric two-wheelers and battery-swapping equipment based on its Mobile Power Pack e: (MPPe) swappable battery platform. The Hanoi municipal government will facilitate regulatory approvals, coordinate local affairs, and offer policy support. Honda’s MPPe platform features standardized, removable battery packs compatible with multiple electric scooter and motorcycle models, enabling users to replace batteries in seconds without lengthy charging times. This battery-swapping model has already undergone pilot operations in Japan, Indonesia, India, and Thailand, helping drive industry-wide adoption of unified technical standards. As a global supplier of traction batteries, LG Energy Solution sees strong growth potential in Southeast Asia’s two-wheeler EV market and places particular emphasis on Vietnam’s pivotal role in the region’s electrification transition. The company’s technology focuses on enhancing battery safety, range, and lifespan to support Vietnam’s development of green transportation infrastructure. Vietnam has a vast two-wheeler mobility base, with millions of gasoline-powered scooters operating daily on its roads. Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent emissions regulations, urban air pollution concerns, and supportive government policies promoting electrification, the shift toward electric mobility is accelerating rapidly. Hanoi—with its high traffic density, frequent usage scenarios, and extensive scooter user base—is an ideal pilot city for the battery-swapping model. If successful, the project could offer a replicable electric mobility solution for other parts of Southeast Asia.