Toshiba and Japan-based battery startup Naturenix are expanding their battery subscription pilot for electric motorcycle taxis in Bangkok.

The next phase will run from December 2025 to March 2026, moving to a paid model and targeting up to 100 EV motorcycles and five charging stations.

The first phase, held from September 2024 to March 2025, was free and tested battery swapping and charging systems for drivers.

The new stage will use upgraded battery packs with real-time monitoring and faster charging.

Feedback from drivers will be collected through a partnership with Thailand’s Windee International.

The results will help refine the system, address technical challenges, and analyze battery performance and degradation.

Toshiba and Naturenix aim to launch a commercial subscription service in fiscal year 2026 and are also considering applications for industrial vehicles.

🔗 Source: Toshiba

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Battery subscription models gain momentum globally as companies address EV adoption barriers

Toshiba and Naturenix’s Bangkok pilot reflects a growing trend of battery-as-a-service models worldwide that aim to reduce upfront costs for electric vehicle adoption.

India’s SUN Mobility has operated battery swapping stations since 2019, allowing users to replace depleted batteries in under five minutes while paying on a usage basis1.

Chinese automaker NIO offers fully automatic battery swap services that can replace a battery in just three minutes, alongside mobile charging units that can be dispatched on-demand2.

The Climate Policy Initiative identified battery subscription as a strategy to lower EV adoption barriers by allowing users to pay for battery usage rather than owning batteries outright, which can lead to better battery utilization rates and reduced total battery needs3.

These models address common EV adoption challenges including high upfront costs, range anxiety, and charging time concerns that have historically slowed electric vehicle market penetration.

2️⃣ Circular economy focus addresses critical battery waste and recycling challenges