Honda and LG team up to set pilot battery swapping stations, 500 e-scooters
Vietnam is already miles ahead of the Philippines in many aspects. While we often get distracted by endless political circus and Senate drama, Vietnam has been focusing on things that actually improve people’s lives, technology, efficient transportation, infrastructure, and innovation.
We saw this firsthand during our recent trip to Hanoi, where VinFast showcased not only its vehicles, but also the level of technology and progress Vietnam has already achieved. And honestly, from the POV of an ordinary Juan dela Cruz like me, it felt less like a simple vehicle presentation and more like a flex of what a country can achieve when it prioritizes long-term progress over endless political theatrics.
From smart mobility solutions to aggressive EV infrastructure expansion, Vietnam is moving fast, while a country like ours is getting left behind by focusing too much on the wrong things.
Anyway, Honda has clearly taken notice of VinFast’s rapid rise in Vietnam, where the local EV giant has managed to disrupt a market long dominated by Japanese motorcycle brands.
Now, Honda is fighting back right on VinFast’s home turf.
Honda recently partnered with South Korean battery giant LG Energy Solution and the City of Hanoi to roll out a pilot battery swapping network across the Vietnamese capital. The agreement includes the installation of 50 battery swapping stations in key areas of Hanoi by Q3 of 2026, along with the deployment of 500 electric scooters powered by LG’s swap-ready 2170 battery cells.
Under the partnership, LG Energy Solution will handle the battery swapping network, operational systems, and safety management, while Honda will develop the battery packs, swapping hardware, and electric scooters for the pilot program.
Hanoi is aggressively accelerating the shift to electric motorcycles and scooters in a bid to combat worsening air pollution. With more than 6 million motorcycles crowding its streets, the Vietnamese capital is considered one of the largest motorcycle cities in the world.
While Vietnam is already building the infrastructure for an electric and smarter mobility future, we Pinoys are still stuck arguing about the same transport problems, drowning in traffic, and binge-watching political drama decade after decade, only this time, our senators are the stars of the latest teleserye.
