Globe’s 917Ventures and Ayala Corporation are set to bring global electric two-wheeler and battery swapping technology leader Gogoro to the Philippines.
Piloting in Metro Manila in the first quarter of 2023, the Gogoro Smartscooters will serve as an eco-friendly alternative to the fossil fuel-powered vehicles currently used by the logistics and last-mile delivery industry. Gogoro® Smart scooters® are powered by Gogoro’s® Battery exchange platform through conveniently located exchange stations where users can quickly exchange dead batteries with fully charged ones in seconds.
Vince Yamat, managing director of 917Ventures, said the partnership aims to reduce the use of fossil fuels by the country’s logistics industry, which is known to release significantly more emissions per vehicle per day than consumers.
“We are committed to helping address the climate crisis by introducing Gogoro to logistics businesses, helping them in their sustainability efforts. In addition, thanks to the Swap & Go technology that allows motorcycles to be fully charged in just a few seconds, we hope that Gogoro will also help solve the hesitations of charging electric vehicles and even finding parking spaces. We hope this technology will encourage more Filipinos to switch to EVs,” said Yamat.
Meanwhile, Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, head of business development and innovation at Ayala Corporation, said: “Ayala supports the Department of Energy’s efforts to transition to cleaner technologies. We are delighted to contribute to a high-quality consortium focused on improving mobility through sustainable solutions, which aligns with our wider ambitions for decarbonisation and digital transformation.”
Patrick Aquino, director of the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Management, said Taiwan has an incredibly high density of scooters compared to the rest of the world, and it’s very encouraging to see its positive response to the Gogoro Network.
“Over 25% of their fast trade deliveries and almost all of their electric deliveries are powered by battery swapping technology and we see this solution will be the most beneficial for a densely populated region like Metro Manila, which is also the business hub. districts. The success of this pilot will pave the way for a new sustainable business model in other cities in the country as well,” he said, adding that the Philippines can learn from Taiwan’s experience.
Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba noted how the project aligns with the government’s development agenda, supporting both digitalization and climate action. “Our country needs innovative, technology-led projects to support climate action. I commend 917Ventures, Globe and Ayala Corporation for always being at the forefront of change initiatives that aim to improve the lives of Filipinos while helping to protect the environment,” said Aldaba.
Chuan-Neng Lin, Vice Minister of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, added: “Gogoro’s leadership in battery change, vehicle design and innovation has transformed two-wheeled mobility in Taiwan and fostered a new smart, environmentally friendly mobility industry. businesses and end users. We look forward to businesses and travelers in the Philippines experiencing the benefits of Gogoro’s smart mobility like we have in Taiwan. Together with Gogoro, we can all achieve our goals of net zero carbon emissions.”
In Taiwan, Gogoro currently has more than 11,000 battery exchange stations in more than 2,260 locations. With more than 1 million batteries in circulation, the number of GoStations has already exceeded the number of gas stations in major cities in Taiwan, making the Gogoro battery the de facto standard for electric two-wheel refueling in Taiwan. The Gogoro network has over 520,000 riders performing over 370,000 battery changes per day.
“Gogoro is honored to have the support of the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to launch this new smart mobility movement in Manila that utilizes Gogoro’s smart battery swap, a new generation refueling for electric vehicles,” said Horace Luke, founder and CEO of Gogoro.
“Through our collaboration with 917Ventures and Ayala Corporation, we are achieving incredible environmental and sustainability benefits and introducing new smart mobility efficiencies for companies, improving the way they manage their delivery fleets,” he added.