Key Lessons from Trial of Battery Swapping for Electric Motorcycles
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Saktiandi Supaat’s inquiry regarding lessons from Taiwan’s battery-swapping electric motorcycle trials, lithium-ion fire risks, and the potential expansion of local regulatory sandboxes. Minister for Transport S Iswaran noted that Taiwan reported only one isolated fire incident and that the Land Transport Authority is using limited sandboxes to test the technology locally. Current trials are capped at 26 motorcycles from Gogoro and MO Batteries, with expansion applications subject to an assessment of progress and safety records. Minister for Transport S Iswaran stated that while Taiwan utilizes these solutions for commercial and private use, local deployment requires adapting regulations through these pilots. Once battery swapping is established as a safe charging mode, these motorcycles are expected to serve both commercial point-to-point services and private users.
Transcript
30 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Transport with regard to the two trial sandboxes for battery swapping for electric motorcycles (a) what are the takeaways from the experience of Taiwan especially in relation to the risk of lithium-ion-battery fires; (b) whether the number of electric motorcycles will increase from the current number of 26 during the 12-month trial period; and (c) whether battery-swapping electric motorcycles are expected to be used predominantly for commercial point-to-point services.
Mr S Iswaran: Electric motorcycles with swappable batteries have been used for both commercial point-to-point services and private purposes in Taiwan. We are only aware of one isolated fire incident in relation to such swapping solutions in Taiwan.
However, given the importance of public safety, LTA has chosen to pilot battery-swapping solutions through limited deployment in regulatory sandboxes, in the first instance. This will allow us to understand and test the technology in our local context and adapt our regulations accordingly, before allowing any wider deployment for public use.
Both the current sandboxes are limited to a combined deployment of 26 electric motorcycles – 20 for Gogoro and six for MO Batteries. Sandbox participants who wish to expand the sandbox must apply to LTA. LTA will consider the progress and safety record of the sandbox in assessing any such applications.
When battery swapping has been established as a safe charging mode, we can expect to see such electric motorcycles for both commercial and private use.