Electric two-wheelers have been part of last-mile transportation in the Philippines since 2006, when the first electric bicycles and scooters arrived from China. However, these vehicles were low mileage and high maintenance and used heavy duty lead-acid batteries for power. In 2010, the Asian Development Bank financed three-wheel electric transport to replace the smoke-breathing two-stroke motor tricycles used to transport passengers and cargo.
Image courtesy of Gogoro
On November 30th, Gogoro Inc. (Nasdaq: GGR), a global technology leader in battery swapping ecosystems based in Taiwan, and 917Ventures, operating under Globe, the technology arm of the Philippines’ largest business conglomerate, the Ayala Corporation, a strategic partnership. focused on an urban battery swap program initially intended for the last-mile delivery industry.
“Through our partnership with Globe, 917Ventures and Ayala Corporation, we intend to unlock incredible environmental and sustainability benefits and introduce new smart mobility efficiencies for businesses by improving the management of their fleets and deliveries,” said Horace Luke, Founder and CEO from Gogoro. in a press statement.
A Gogoro battery exchange station in Taiwan. (Photo by Gogoro)
The companies are launching a two-wheel battery swap pilot in Manila using Gogoro’s leading battery swappable and Smartscooters.
On the one hand, the Gogoro battery swap network has been hugely successful in Taiwan and has fueled the shift from ICE scooters to electric scooters. Founded in 2011, the company’s battery swap and vehicle platforms provided the island with a smart, proven and long-term sustainable ecosystem for a new approach to urban mobility. Taking advantage of how city energy is distributed and consumed, Gogoro’s battery swap system takes into account power sources to charge the batteries in its swap bank and also the overall effect on the national grid using a highly digitized platform called Swap & Go . that use artificial intelligence to manage battery availability and safety.
On the other hand, Globe and Ayala Corporation are helping to lead the Philippines in renewable energy with solar and wind projects as well as the installation of charging stations in Ayala malls and real estate developments. In one of the brands it carries in its automotive business, it begins distributing the Kia EV6 and promotes bringing in other EVs through its Volkswagen and Honda businesses.
Gogoro has quickly become an innovation leader in vehicle design and electric propulsion, smart battery design, battery swapping and advanced cloud services that have positively disrupted the status quo, and are now helping to set new standards locally and globally and create new levels of sustainable transportation growth in densely populated cities,
An example of this technology disruptor are the Smartscooters. Powered by Swap and Go, these electric motorcycles extend distances and time on the road, delivering riders in just seconds. The Smartscooters will serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuel vehicles currently used by the logistics industry in the Philippines and are expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2023.
“We are committed to helping solve the climate crisis by introducing Gogoro to logistics companies and assisting them in their sustainability efforts. In addition, the Swap & Go technology allows riders to be fully charged in just seconds, eliminating the need for parking spaces. Hopefully, this technology will encourage more Filipinos to switch to electric cars, said Vince Yamat, Managing Director of 917Ventures.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines are delighted with the developments that underpin Taiwan’s successes in last-mile EVs and switching of batteries. go electric fast.
“More than 25% of Taiwan’s fast trade deliveries and almost all of their electrical deliveries are powered by Gogoro’s battery swap technology, and we see this solution most beneficial for a densely populated region like Metro Manila, which is also the center of business districts,” said Patrick Aquino, director of DOE-EMB.
“Our country needs innovative technology-led projects that support climate action,” added Rafaelita Aldaba, undersecretary of the DTI.
“Gogoro is honored by the support of the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to jump-start this new smart mobility movement in Manila that uses Gogoro’s intelligent battery swap, a new generation of EV fueling,” replied Luke.
In Taiwan, more than 520,000 motorcyclists benefit from the nearly 11,000 battery-changing GoStations in more than 2,260 locations. The xGogoro network hosts more than 370,000 daily battery changes with over 360 million total battery changes to date.
Image courtesy of Gogoro
“Gogoro’s leadership in battery swapping, vehicle design and innovation has transformed two-wheeled mobility in Taiwan and fostered a new smart mobility industry of eco-friendly companies and end users. We look forward to businesses and passengers in the Philippines experiencing the benefits of Gogoro’It’s smart mobility like we have in Taiwan. Together with Gogorocan we all achieve our net-zero carbon emissions targets,” concluded Chuan-Neng Lin, vice minister of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs.
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