- The company is simultaneously entering the battery swapping business in our country and in Colombia, alongside the Taiwanese startup that created this technology, which is unprecedented in our country.
- The system is already implemented at 3 Copec service stations in Santiago and will supply clean, renewable energy for Gogoro motorcycles. By the end of the summer, there will be 6 battery swapping locations.
Santiago, January 31, 2024.- With the goal of continuing to promote sustainable mobility initiatives that impact people's lives through more service alternatives, Copec announced a strategic alliance with Gogoro, a world-leading company in the development of electric motorcycles with battery swapping. This technology will mark a milestone in the development of two-wheeled electromobility in the region, as experts estimate that this segment will be the first to be electrified on a massive scale.
The company is developing the first Latin American network of battery swapping stations ("Go Stations"), the first steps of which are in Santiago, Chile, and Bogotá, Colombia, at Terpel service stations. Each swapping station is equipped with an advanced real-time monitoring system, guaranteeing optimal battery performance and providing users with a reliable and safe experience.
The smart batteries were designed specifically for this type of vehicle, and their value proposition is linked to sustainable mobility, promoting the mass adoption of zero-emission vehicles, but also to the time demands of modern life, since the system allows users to leave a discharged battery at the station and take a charged one. This means that in less than 30 seconds, the motorcycle is ready to ride again, resulting in greater range than a traditional electric motorcycle.
The system includes an energy subscription method that adjusts to each driver's needs, becoming a dynamic option for both frequent travelers and logistics delivery drivers.
Regarding the benefits for users of this revolutionary solution, a 15% savings on charging is estimated for urban users and an average of 25% for last-mile delivery drivers compared to a traditional motorcycle, in addition to zero CO2 emissions and a considerable reduction in traffic noise.
“The implementation of the battery swapping system is our entry into two-wheeled electromobility, which means that sustainable mobility with clean energy is reaching many more segments than originally envisioned. The alliance with Gogoro will allow us to extend the benefits of electromobility and generate a positive impact on people through a pioneering service in the region,” says Arturo Natho, General Manager of Copec.
For his part, Horace Luke, founder and CEO of Gogoro, said: "Our alliance with Copec is an important milestone that aligns with our mission to transform urban transportation worldwide. Thanks to it, we will provide an accessible option for both consumers and last-mile delivery drivers to adopt sustainable urban mobility, which plays a key role in the fight against climate change."
The executive added: "On average, last-mile delivery drivers travel more than six times the distance of an ordinary user, so enabling these delivery drivers to adopt intelligent and sustainable electric transport can have a major impact on cities."
Gogoro is present in various parts of the world, such as Taiwan, South Korea, mainland China, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Israel, and the Philippines. Now, this technology will arrive in Chile and Colombia hand-in-hand with Copec, becoming the first countries in Latin America to have Gogoro technology. The company plans to launch and market Gogoro electric motorcycles in the country in the coming months, in partnership with Grupo Kaufmann, a conglomerate specializing in transport and mobility solutions.
Today, the already enabled swapping centers are at the Copec service stations at Av. Las Condes 10912, Príncipe de Gales 6880, and Vicuña Mackenna 654, with those at Av. Irarrázaval 5277, Av. Vitacura 6380, and Av. La Dehesa 2016 to be implemented soon.
