Globe’s 917Ventures and Ayala Corporation are set to bring global two-wheel electric vehicle and battery-swapping technology leader Gogoro to the Philippines.
Piloting in Metro Manila in Q1 2023, Gogoro® Smartscooters® will serve as an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuel-powered vehicles currently used by the logistics and last-mile delivery industry. These will be powered by a battery swapping platform through conveniently located swap stations, where users can quickly swap depleted batteries for fully-charged ones in seconds.
Vince Yamat, 917Ventures managing director, said the partnership seeks to reduce the use of fossil fuel by the country’s logistics industry which is known to release significantly more emissions per vehicle per day than consumer riding.
“We are committed to helping address the climate crisis by introducing Gogoro to logistics businesses, helping them in their sustainability efforts. In addition, because of the Swap & Go technology that enables riders to be fully charged in just seconds, we hope Gogoro will also help address hesitations surrounding charging electric vehicles and even finding parking slots. Hopefully, this technology will encourage more Filipinos to switch to EV,” Yamat said.
Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corporation’s head of business development and innovation, said: “Ayala supports the Department of Energy’s thrust to transition towards cleaner technologies. We are excited to contribute to a high-quality consortium focused on enhancing mobility through sustainable solutions, which aligns with our broader decarbonization and digital transformation ambitions.”
Patrick Aquino, director of the Department of Energy’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau, said Taiwan has an incredibly high scooter density compared to the rest of the world, and it’s very encouraging to see its positive response to the Gogoro Network.
“More than 25% of their quick commerce deliveries and almost all of their electric deliveries are powered by battery-swapping technology, and we see this solution will be most beneficial to a densely populated region like Metro Manila, which is also the hub of business 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 by supporting both digitalization and climate action. “Our country needs innovative tech-led projects that support climate action. I commend 917Ventures, Globe and the Ayala Corporation for always being at the forefront of change-making initiatives that aim to improve the lives of Filipinos while helping protect the environment,” said Aldaba.
Chuan-Neng Lin, vice minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan, also added, “Gogoro’s leadership in battery swapping, vehicle design, and innovation has transformed two-wheel mobility in Taiwan and fostered a new smart mobility industry of eco-friendly businesses and end-users. We look forward to businesses and riders in the Philippines experiencing the benefits of Gogoro’s smart mobility like we have in Taiwan. Together with Gogoro, we can all reach our net-zero carbon emissions goals.”
In Taiwan, Gogoro currently has over 11,000 battery swapping stations at more than 2,260 locations. With over 1 million batteries in circulation the number of GoStations has already surpassed the number of gas stations in Taiwan’s major cities, making Gogoro battery swapping the de facto standard for electric two-wheel refueling in Taiwan. The Gogoro Network has more than 520,000 riders that perform more than 370,000 battery swaps per day.
“Gogoro is honored to have the support of the Philippine’s Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to kickstart this new smart mobility movement in Manila that utilizes Gogoro’s intelligent battery swapping, a new generation of EV refueling,” said Horace Luke, founder and CEO of Gogoro.
“Through our collaboration with 917Ventures and Ayala Corporation, we are unlocking incredible environmental and sustainability benefits, and introducing new smart mobility efficiencies for businesses by improving how they manage their delivery fleets,” he added.