Gogoro Smartscooters Pilot Tested by Globe Employees Ahead of PH Launch

MANILA: More than 50 Gogoro Smartscooters are currently being pilot tested on the streets of Manila by Globe employees as part of a two-month program aimed to gather user feedback ahead of the commercial launch later this year.

The Gogoro Smartscooters make use of Gogoro's innovative battery-swapping technology, which makes it convenient for users to swap out their depleted batteries for fully charged ones in just a matter of seconds.

Gogoro Philippines Inc. is a joint venture established by Globe’s 917Ventures Inc., Ayala Corporation, and Gogoro. It aims to transform the Philippine transportation landscape and promote clean and sustainable mobility using Gogoro's revolutionary electric two-wheel cars and open battery swap network.

“Gogoro is Globe’s entry into the climate tech industry through 917Ventures Inc. The official signing of the joint venture is a big stride in our goal to provide eco-friendly transport that places at the forefront environmental stewardship and mobility for businesses and individuals. Our enduring dedication to effecting positive change in Filipino lives is further underscored by this initiative,” Globe President and Chief Executive Officer Ernest Cu stated.

“This alliance sets the stage for an EV revolution in the country,” Gogoro Philippines Chief Executive Officer Bernie Llamzon said. “Our cutting-edge swappable battery system and smart mobility solutions will provide Filipino riders with a sustainable, cost-effective, and technologically advanced means of transport while reducing carbon emissions.”

The partnership was formed in 2022, and the first GoStation was launched at the Globe headquarters in Taguig City in April 2023.

“Gogoro Philippines, our joint venture with Globe’s 917Ventures Inc. and the Ayala Group, continues our global mission to empower cities with intelligent, eco-friendly mobility solutions that are open and accessible. Together, we are focused on accelerating the mass market shift to smart electric mobility and battery swapping addressing the urban mobility energy demands in a safe, sustainable, and scalable way,” Gogoro Founder and Chief Executive Officer Horace Luke said.

The Gogoro system has been highly successful in Taiwan, where there are now more battery swapping stations than there are gasoline stations. Its network is a new generation of swappable battery refueling that is smart, safe, and continually evolving itself to be adaptable and dynamic for users, businesses, and communities.

The Gogoro Network serves almost 550,000 riders and has more than 1.1 million smart batteries in use through its network of more than 12,000 battery swapping stations at more than 2,500 locations across Taiwan. Gogoro Network battery swapping has saved more than 680,000 tons of CO2 from being released since it began, with 400,000 battery swaps every day and more than 480 million total battery swaps so far.

Photos by Dylan Afuang, Gogoro, and Globe

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