According to media reports, Japanese automaker Isuzu is set to unveil an electric truck with swappable batteries. The company aims to introduce a new business based on this model to enhance delivery efficiency.
As part of the initiative, Isuzu has developed its unmanned battery-swapping station, where robots can replace vehicle batteries in just three minutes. Previously, the extended charging time has been a major hurdle for the widespread adoption of electric trucks. Isuzu intends to install these swapping facilities at logistics company warehouses and gas stations across various locations in Japan.
Isuzu plans to develop a new vehicle based on its Elf light-duty electric truck, which is primarily used for convenience store deliveries and waste collection. The new model will support battery-swapping technology, with the company targeting the commencement of demonstration testing for the new vehicle in 2025.
Currently, the charging time for electric trucks is around 10 hours, making it less efficient in terms of delivery compared to traditional diesel trucks. According to data from the Yano Research Institute in Tokyo, only about 1.2% of global commercial vehicle sales in 2021 were electric, including hybrid models.
With the growing popularity of electric vehicles, battery-swapping systems are expected to improve the efficiency of electric vehicles and play a crucial role in driving the decarbonization process. Some companies have already begun developing such systems for light commercial vehicles. Honda and Japanese logistics company Yamato Transport announced in October of this year that they would begin testing battery-swappable light-duty electric vehicles for delivery purposes.
