Isuzu, Mitsubishi to pilot battery-swapping system for EVs in Thailand

MANILA: Isuzu and Mitsubishi will pilot a battery-swapping system for electric vehicles (EV) in Thailand.

According to the former, the two Japanese automakers will conduct a demonstration of sector coupling in the Kingdom of Thailand to introduce a battery-swapping solution, which will be integrated with the energy infrastructure.

Per Isuzu, the technology to be used in the said pilot project will be based on its EVision Cycle Concept.

Unveiled at last year’s Japan Mobility Show, the said system allows batteries to be exchanged with fully charged ones in a matter of minutes, eliminating the downtime associated with recharging battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). In addition, by separating the batteries from the vehicle, they can be utilized for other energy management applications, such as facilitating the efficient use of renewable energy.

Per Isuzu, the upcoming demonstration project will be carried out next year.

Involved in the pilot are Isuzu’s subsidiaries in Thailand, Isuzu Motors Company Limited and Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Company Limited (which will conduct the actual demonstration), and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Asia Company Limited, which will support carbon neutrality initiatives unique to the country.

“With the goal of achieving a carbon-neutral society worldwide, this demonstration project will help expand the use of battery-swapping BEVs in the commercial vehicle sector where electrification is a challenge, and to build a new energy system, including the use of renewable energy at battery swapping stations. Isuzu and MC are committed to contributing to the further development and decarbonization of the commercial vehicle business in Thailand,” Isuzu said in a statement.

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