Taipei-based electric scooter and battery maker Gogoro is going full-speed ahead with next month’s sale of two of its popular electric smart scooters — the “built by women and designed for women” Delight; and the pocket rocket Supersport.
This was revealed after Gogoro Philippines opened the Gogoro Experience Center last week at the 2nd level of Greenbelt 4 in Ayala Center Makati.
Pricing of the two models will be announced this coming December.
Other much-awaited models that will be sold in the country are the supercar-inspired Gogoro S1 that can sprint from 0 to 50 km/h in 3.7 seconds and the light and compact Gogoro Viva.
The groups behind Gogoro Philippines — Ayala Corporation, Globe Group’s 917Ventures and Gogoro of Taiwan — explained that the Delight and Supersport models are what Filipinos need to get started and be part of the Gogoro ecosystem, which uses an open platform for battery swapping and smart mobility services along with the sale of electric smart scooters and their components and accessories.
Bernie Llamzon, president of Gogoro Philippines, said during the center’s launch: “The Philippines is uniquely primed to embrace the exponential global electric vehicle growth, bolstered by the government’s robust EV plan.”
“At Gogoro, we’re looking to redefine how Filipinos move, making cities smarter and cleaner. The results from our pilot program with Globe employees have been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited to extend this experience to the broader public.”
Gogoro Philippines intends to replicate the brand’s success in Taiwan, wherein last year alone its smart battery was the product used by five out of six electric scooter makers. In fact, since 2015, Gogoro still holds the title as the No. 1 electric scooter seller in Taiwan.
Since its establishment in 2011, subscribers of Gogoro’s electric smart scooters have completed over 480 million battery swaps, with more than 400,000 swaps happening every day.
Presently, there are three fully operational battery swapping stations in Metro Manila: Globe Tower in BGC, Puregold in Parañaque, and Puregold JP Rizal in Makati.
“We are now in the process of setting up more in the coming weeks so that by December, our subscribers in Metro Manila won’t have to worry about locating a nearby swapping station,” assured Blaise de Leon, one of the retail universalists at Gogoro Experience Center.
Incidentally, Gogoro electric smart scooters can cover a distance of up to 170 kilometers before needing a swap, and thus, owners or subscribers don’t have to frequently go to battery swapping stations.
-
- THE Gogoro Delight will be among the first models to be available in the Philippine market.
History
In 2011, a group of futurists, engineers, designers and data scientists led by Horace Luke — who eventually founded Gogoro and became its CEO — began working to address the challenge of how to make riding electric-powered vehicles a reality for the millions who rely on two-wheelers every day.
The group realized they needed a solution that would go well beyond just replacing a motorcycle’s internal combustion engine with a battery pack — it must be something that would make lives easier and cities more livable for everyone.
To realize this, Gogoro engineered safer, swappable smart batteries that would be future-proof, software-enhanced, and accessible to thousands of riders.
So, they came up with the company’s own electric smart scooter models that could use these smart batteries, equipping them with a compact computer that constantly “thinks” about what the rider might need next (like when it’s time to swap batteries or if one of the wheels is already underinflated).
These electric smart scooters are also theft-proof since they only work with a smart keycard and are kept bug-free via regular software updates.
Using the cloud, Gogoro has securely synced all its subscribers’ needed data which includes manufacturing and customer service. The company has also improved the features of Gogoro-powered electric smart scooters for a hassle-free experience when subscribers visit any of its battery-swapping stations.
In recent years, Gogoro has been exploring other possibilities that would enable its smart batteries to last longer and become more efficient over time.
“Gogoro guarantees that each of its 10-kg battery is safe, IPX7 rated (water resistant under one meter of water for 30 minutes), and is fire resistant because it is encased in fire retardant and thermal insulating materials that can withstand impacts of more than 10 tons.
Should someone steal the scooter, that person won’t be able to swap the depleted battery for a new one as the station will only recognize the registered owner,” explained De Leon.
MOST Gogoro smart scooters feature two swappable batteries. This Delight model can go 150 km before needing a swap.
Two-month testing
To ensure a smooth operation, Gogoro Philippines conducted a two-month-long test, employing the services of over 60 Globe employees.
The test already revealed that the Gogoro ecosystem could be a sustainable transport alternative as the total of 2,603 batteries swaps made not only covered a total riding distance of 42,399 km, but also resulted in preventing the release of 3,316 kg of carbon dioxide into the air.
“Urban transportation is going through a fundamental transformation and Gogoro is focused on making cities like Manila smarter, cleaner, and safer by providing broad access to sustainable transportation. Our ‘Swap & Go’ battery-swapping has been a big hit in Taiwan and recognized globally for its innovation, ease of use and accessibility.
“Since 2015, we’ve reduced carbon emissions by over 736 million kilograms globally, which is what 73.6 million trees would do in a year. We’re excited to introduce these vehicles and battery swapping to the Philippines and enable a new smart and sustainable approach to urban transportation,” said Jason Gordon, Gogoro VP of Communications, during the launch.
Ming-I Peng, Gogoro chief product officer, detailed the foundational pillars of the Gogoro experience: “Our smart battery system, crafted with precision for energy swapping, has seen an unprecedented 440 million swaps globally. It champions both user safety and unbridled convenience.
Furthermore, our GoStation and smart scooters are crafted with an ethos of speed, safety, intelligence, and personalization. The Philippine market is on an upward trend, and we stand ready to elevate the experience.”
