Just like our smartphones these days, the batteries on most of the EVs on sale today are not swappable, making the masses think twice before buying one. While the charging times have gotten much faster, it still takes more time compared to visiting a gas station and filling up. It also depends on the infrastructure and charging capabilities of the vehicle.
I happen to bump into this Taiwanese company called Gogoro, which has been making electric Smartscooters since 2015. The talking point here is that these scooters have a battery swapping feature; the batteries can be swapped at one of the several portable stations in just a few seconds.
Gogoro 1 Plus
Gogoro has a bunch of Smartscooters in their portfolio with power outputs ranging from over 8.5 hp to 10 hp. Torque is an impressive 27 Nm. There are different body styles available too, including the featured one called S2 Cafe Racer which gets classic looks.
Features include LED lighting, digital instrument cluster, disc brake at both ends with a synchronized braking system, adjustable front and rear suspension, and Maxxis performance tires. The Cafe Racer also gets an air-cushioned seat called Airfloat. The biggest feature of these scooters is, of course, swappable batteries.
There are over 1,240 GoStations at the time of publishing this story, where the user can swap the lunch carrier-shaped battery packs in no time. They’re open 24/7 and can be found on the app. Gogoro claims that the batteries can be swapped in 6 seconds, which is much faster than traditional refueling. Depending on the riding style, the batteries offer a range of up to 110 km.
Gogoro has partnered with Yamaha to design Yamaha-branded electric scooters based on Gogoro’s models, for the Taiwanese market with production handled by Gogoro. Sumitomo Corporation, a business partner of both Gogoro and Yamaha Motor, is playing a key role in this collaboration.
Also Read: FastCharge research project’s 450 kW prototype offers 100 km in 3 min
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