How KYMCO hopes to change the game for swappable battery EVs
KYMCO, one of the world’s leading motorcycle, scooter, and ATV manufacturers, has just announced a major new expansion to the brand’s Ionex platform for swappable battery electric vehicles.
We’ve watched over the years as KYMCO has expanded its Ionex system, pushing out thousands of battery swap kiosks around its domestic market in Taiwan and producing a wide range of compatible electric scooters.
Similar to other major battery-swapping companies, Ionex has operated under a membership platform that allows riders to buy the electric scooter and then pay for battery swapping as a service instead of buying the batteries outright.
Batteries are usually the single most expensive component in an electric vehicle, so this setup helps dramatically reduce the purchase cost of EVs.
Battery swapping has been a tough sell on full-size electric cars but has been proven effective on smaller EVs like motorbikes since the batteries can be lifted and swapped by hand.
Now KYMCO is making a big announcement, showcasing its plan to impact the battery-swapping market with an expansion of its Ionex offerings. Or more accurately, it’s making three announcements – all of which we were able to see firsthand at the 2023 EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show last week.
Check out my experience of seeing KYMCO’s updates firsthand in the video below.
The first major announcement is the launch of “Ionex Battery-as-a-Service Solution” for energy companies that want to offer battery-as-a-service (BaaS) for customers.
The second is the development of a Battery Metering Unit (BMU) that will allow third-party vehicle manufacturers to manufacture EVs that are powered by the Ionex Common Battery, the main battery developed by KYMCO for its Ionex platform.
The third major announcement is the opening of the Ionex Energy Station, the swapping kiosk at the heart of the battery swap model, as a solution for third-party network operators.
Ionex Battery-as-a-Service Solution
KYMCO is opening up its system to allow energy companies to offer Battery-as-a-Service operations using the Ionex Common Battery and the Ionex Operating System.
The batteries themselves have already performed millions of swaps in the field, mostly in KYMCO’s domestic market of Taiwan, and the company says it’s now ready for energy companies to adopt the system.
Energy companies can theoretically outfit their existing locations, such as gas stations, with the ability to swap and charge batteries as well as offering vehicle charging from the same kiosk.
“The Ionex Battery-as-a-Service not only accelerates EV adoption but also re-defines the industry,” commented Ken Ma, President of MEV at Ampace, a joint venture of ATL and CATL. “The Ionex Battery-as-a-Service allows energy companies to focus on developing and supplying batteries with the best technology for all-electric motorcycle riders,” commented Vincent Wong, Senior Vice President of EVE Energy.
Ionex Battery Metering Unit for manufacturers
The newly unveiled Ionex Battery Metering Unit (BMU) is the brains of the operation that will make it easy for third-party OEMs to produce electric scooters and motorcycles that are powered by Ionex batteries.
The BMU is essentially a black box that holds all the magic inside, allowing other manufacturers to reduce their vehicle development time by relying on Ionex’s technology for powering the vehicles.
As the company explained, the BMU accurately tracks real-time battery usage and “comes with an Internet of Vehicles (IoV) control interface, allowing the vehicle to connect with the rider through the Ionex User App for abundant smart vehicle features and turning the rider’s mobile phone into the vehicle’s keyless device. It is also equipped with Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware updates and financial-grade encrypted data transmission, all the advanced digital technologies expected in the electric era.”
Ionex Energy Stations ready to roll out
The Ionex Energy Station is the company’s battery-swapping kiosk that is capable of charging and deploying batteries for swapping as well as electric vehicle charging. The system is cloud-connected and comes in various sizes, even down to mini-stations with just five battery slots.
The stations can be used with any BMU-equipped electric vehicle, opening the door to a wide range of EVs operating on the Ionex platform.
Earlier this summer we heard early details regarding KYMCO’s partnership with PTT, a massive Thai energy company, that is seeing Ionex stations rolled out in Thailand.
As Managing Director of Arun Plus, the EV ecosystem flagship of PTT, Ekachai Yimsakul explained:
“The Ionex Energy Station is a turnkey solution to build battery-swapping networks for electric motorcycle riders. It plays a crucially important role in our pursuit of becoming the leading global energy provider in the electric era.”
KYMCO of course isn’t the only battery-swapping game in town, but the company has made major strides in the last few years. With an increasing customer base and country list, Ionex is definitely a platform to keep an eye on.
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Hyundai offered a first look at the hot hatch earlier this week after unveiling the Concept Three, its first compact EV under the IONIQ family. The new EV, set to arrive as the IONIQ 3, already has a sporty, hot hatch look, but that could be just the start.
Hyundai has a new EV hot hatch in the making
The Concept Three took the spotlight at IAA Mobility in Munich with a daring new look from Hyundai. Based on its new “Art of Steel” design, the concept is a stark contrast to the Hyundai vehicles on the road today.
Hyundai took the “Aero Hatch” design to the next level, deeming it “a new typology that reimagines the compact EV silhouette.” And that it does.
When it arrives in production form in mid-2026, it’s expected to take the IONIQ 3 name as a smaller, more affordable sibling to the IONIQ 5.
Hyundai is set to unveil the electric hatchback next spring with an official launch planned in Europe in September 2026. According to Hyundai’s European boss, Xavier Martinet, the IONIQ 3 could make for the perfect EV hot hatch.
Martinet hinted that the IONIQ 3 could receive the “N” treatment, telling Auto Express that “The concept is quite sporty, and obviously you have heritage with N brand.” Hyundai’s European boss added that “it’s a fair topic to consider.”
Although it doesn’t sound too convincing, Hyundai’s head of design, Simon Loasby, called it “an opportunity.” Loasby was quick to add, “We’re not calling it N, it’s not approved yet.”
“But I think everyone in the company is realising what Europe needs, and that’s compact hot hatches, so it’s a topic for discussion,” Hyundai’s design boss added.
The Concept Three is 4,287 mm long, 1,940 mm wide, and 1,428 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,722 mm, or about the size of the Kia EV3 and Volkswagen ID.3. Both of which are set for hot hatch variants.
If the IONIQ 3 N does come to life, it will be the third Hyundai EV to receive the high-performance upgrade, following the IONIQ 5 N and IONIQ 6 N.
The IONIQ 5 N “was just the first lap,” according to Joon Park, vice president of Hyundai’s N Brand Management Group. He told Auto Express that Hyundai is “at the starting line” and plans to apply what it learned from its first EV hot hatch to upcoming models.
If you’re looking for an affordable electric hot hatch, Hyundai already offers one. After Hyundai cut lease prices last month, the IONIQ 5 N is now listed at just $549 per month. That’s $150 less per month than in July.
Want to test one out for yourself? You can use our link to find 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 models in your area (trusted affiliate link).
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The global wind industry is going to hit some unprecedented growth milestones, according to Wood Mackenzie’s Global Wind Power Market Outlook for Q3 2025. The world is on track to add its second terawatt of wind capacity by 2030. To put that in perspective, it took 23 years to install the first terawatt, which was reached in 2023. The second will come in just seven.
Wind is also set for a record-breaking year in 2025. Global additions are expected to reach 170 gigawatts (GW), with more than 70 GW coming online in the last quarter of the year alone. That means Q4 could add more capacity than the total installed in any full year before 2020.
This forecast represents a 13% jump from the previous quarter, primarily driven by explosive onshore growth in China. Global wind capacity is expected to double from 2024 levels by 2032. Outside of China, the industry is also expanding, though on a slower path. Excluding China, the world will reach 1 terawatt in 2031 and double 2024 capacity by 2034.
However, policy uncertainty and the Trump administration’s hostility toward the wind industry, particularly offshore wind, are negatively impacting the US market. Trump’s big bill act (OBBBA), passed in July 2025, ends tax credits after 2027. That’s sparked a rush of projects in the short term, but it drags down the long-term outlook. For the first time, the US has fallen behind India and Germany in forecasted 10-year additions.
“China’s dominance in the wind industry is becoming more pronounced,” said Sasha Bond-Smith, research analyst at Wood Mackenzie. “While other established markets struggle with policy uncertainty and economic headwinds, we’re witnessing an unequalled concentration of growth in China that’s reshaping the industry landscape.”
China’s onshore forecast jumped this quarter thanks to rising electricity demand from data centers and electrification. Wind is proving more profitable than solar in liberalized power markets, but China’s offshore wind sector is facing challenges. Sea-use conflicts are slowing or even halting projects already under construction.
Despite those hurdles, Wood Mackenzie now projects that wind could match solar’s power output in China over the forecast period. That would cement wind’s central role in helping the country meet climate goals while keeping up with surging power demand.
Elsewhere, onshore wind remains steady across Europe, Asia Pacific, and emerging markets, with tender results and pipelines supporting progress. Offshore wind is struggling, though. High costs and failed tenders are creating setbacks in Europe and delays in emerging markets. Policymakers are under pressure to rethink contract structures to keep projects moving.
“The wind industry’s most significant transformation in decades continues to unfold,” said Kárys Prado, senior research analyst at Wood Mackenzie. “While achieving historic scale, success will depend on how effectively the industry navigates this new geography of growth and adapts to evolving policy landscapes.”
Read more: FERC: Solar + wind made up 91% of new US power generating capacity in H1 2025
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