Vietnam’s Hanoi capital city, South Korea’s LG Energy Solution, and Japan’s Honda Motor will jointly develop a large-scale electric motorcycle battery-swapping network, starting with 50 pilot stations in 2026 and expanding to a projected 1,000 locations citywide by 2027.

The three sides signed a memorandum of understanding for the move on Monday. Speaking at the ceremony, Truong Viet Dung, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, said the transition toward green transportation and clean energy is an urgent priority for Hanoi.

He emphasized that the battery-swapping system should serve smart integration and compatibility across multiple vehicle brands and models. He also suggested for installation of charging and swapping stations along major roads, public parking areas, shopping malls, residential buildings, and public service locations, in order improve convenience for users.

During the pilot phase beginning in the third quarter of 2026, around 50 battery-swapping stations will be installed in central Hanoi, particularly near Hoan Kiem ward, where traffic density is high and low-emission regulations will first be introduced.

Following an evaluation of the pilot program, Hanoi plans to expand the network from the third quarter of 2027, with a target of 1,000 battery-swapping stations across the city.

LG Energy Solution said it will provide high-performance battery technology and safety-focused energy solutions for the project, while also supporting the broader development of Vietnam’s electric mobility ecosystem.

Honda Motor said urban transportation electrification is becoming increasingly important globally, particularly in rapidly developing cities such as Hanoi. The company plans to further strengthen cooperation to support the adoption of electric mobility and reduce environmental impact in the city.

Hanoi currently has around eight million vehicles and plans to pilot a low-emission zone within Ring Road 1 (the inner area of the city) beginning July 1.

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