Gogoro Smartscooter introduced, battery swapping pilot site by Q4

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ENERGY and transport startup Gogoro has along with its local partners, Globe Group’s 917Ventures, and Ayala Corp, launched the Gogoro Smartscooter, while opening a pilot program to test the mobility solution at the Globe headquarters with 70 selected employees. The program starts off a network of Gogoro battery-swapping stations planned to be established initially in Metro Manila and eventually across the country.

The pilot will not only test the effectivity of the medium-range scooter and the battery swapping solution for two months but will also allow an exchange of comments and insights, to ensure an even better customer experience once the e-bikes become available to the public later this year.

Globe CEO Ernst Cu

“We in the Globe Group are very proud to bring Gogoro Smartscooters and battery-swapping to the Philippines, a transport ecosystem that marries mobility innovation and sustainability,” Ernest Cu, Globe Group President and CEO said at the launch as the the first Gogoro battery-swapping station was unveiled at The Globe Tower.

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Gogoro has had huge success in Taiwan where it was founded in 2011 by Horace Luke and Matt Taylor. The company’s mission is to reduce carbon emissions and improve urban transportation through its innovative electric scooters and battery-swapping infrastructure.

A battery swapping demonstration.

Known as GoStations, Gogoro’s battery swapping technology resolves the need for riders to wait for their scooter to charge, making it a convenient and efficient option for urban transportation. Since its launch, the company has expanded its operations to several countries, including China, France, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Germany,  and Korea. In addition to its electric scooter and battery-swapping system, Gogoro has also developed a platform that connects riders to a network of charging stations and other services, such as maintenance and insurance.

Gogoro’s launch is the Globe Group’s debut in the climate tech space, as it continues to deliver innovations that address Filipinos’ daily pain points. As a better transportation alternative, Gogoro aims to address commuter woes on expensive gas prices while helping curb carbon emissions, in line with the partners’ shared commitment to sustainability, and the Philippine government’s sustainable development agenda.

“This year, Filipinos will have access to these electric two wheelers and Gogoro’s convenient and cost-efficient battery-swapping technology, another first in the Philippines,” Cu added.

Horace Luke, Gogoro founder.

Horace Luke, Founder and CEO of Gogoro, said the company is excited to bring the Gogoro ecosystem to the Philippines and is committed to replicating its success in Taiwan, where Gogoro has 540,000 riders and has deployed more than one million smart batteries at 12,000 battery-swapping stations. Gogoro riders have swapped more than 450 million total swaps, 400,000 per day, and Gogoro has saved more than 627,000 tons of CO2 since it launched.

“Our partnership with the Globe Group and Ayala Corporation in the Philippines is a major milestone in our mission to transform urban transportation and provide an accessible path for riders to adopt sustainable urban mobility and play a key role in battling climate change and making the world better for all. We look forward to working together to deliver a sustainable transport system that will improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and provide a superior riding experience for consumers in the Philippines,” Luke said.

Llamzon

“The Gogoro ecosystem is very convenient as its swap-and-go technology allows riders to swap out depleted batteries for charged ones in just seconds and go on their way. With the current traffic situation in the metro, these Smartscooters will serve as an eco-friendly alternative to ease congestion while at the same time reducing carbon emissions,” Bernie Llamzon, Globe Capital Venture Holdings Inc. Director said.

917Ventures Managing Director Vince Yamat, meanwhile, thanked the government’s support for the shift to EVs as he cited the importance of enabling policy for electric vehicles to succeed in the country.

“The shift to EVs, particularly deploying Gogoro’s battery-swapping system, will go a long way with sustained government support that will allow private sector initiatives to prosper. Sustainable transportation projects are, after all, aligned with the government’s long-term agenda to promote environment-friendly transport options and foster digitalization as mobility needs of Filipino individuals and businesses rise,” Yamat said.

Globe Capital Venture Holdings Director Bernie Llamzon, Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Gogoro Founder and CEO Horace Luke, Globe Group President and CEO Ernest Cu, and 917 Ventures Managing Director Vince Yamat at the launch of the Gogoro Smartscooters and Battery-Swapping GoStation ecosystem in the Philippines.

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