Singapore to see commercial operation of battery-swapping electric motorcycles in 2024
Derryn Wong
COMPANIES with motorcycle fleets in Singapore may soon be able to charge their electric motorcycles at new charge-and-swap stations, with charging providers Gogoro and Mo Batteries aiming to switch to commercial operations next year.
Both electric motorcycles and charge-and-swap stations have been in Singapore since early 2023, but only in limited numbers under the Land Transport Authority’s sandbox trial project.
The trial involves charging station operators in partnership with local companies: Gogoro with foodpanda and Cycle & Carriage, and Mo Batteries with Singapore Post and Prosegur.
Gogoro supplied 20 electric motorcycles, 100 swappable batteries and two stations for the trial, while Mo Batteries supplied six motorcycles, 30 batteries and two stations.
However, commercial operations are now possible – subject to approval – due to the commencement of the Electric Vehicles Charging Act on Dec 8, 2023.
The Act regulates the supply, installation, certification, registration, use and maintenance of chargers for electric vehicles (EVs).
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Potential operators of charge-and-swap stations must first get regulatory approval by applying for a licence, and must conform to specified standards for EV charging systems.
A Gogoro representative told The Business Times that the sandbox project is close to completion, and that the company will move to commercial deployment in the first half of 2024.
The Taiwan-based company is the world leader in battery-swap motorcycles and charging stations. It listed on Nasdaq in April 2022 and previously received funding from Temasek in 2017.
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Mo Batteries co-founder Tom Streitberg told BT that the current sandbox will continue until January 2024, with the company intending to switch to commercial operations some time in 2024.
“At this stage, our plan is to continue to use the sandbox to test and build our business case and then apply for the licence,” he said.
Streitberg said that the company has also conducted trials with Ninja Van, Grab, Certis and the Sentosa Development Corporation to positive feedback.
“We see a real demand for a fit-for-purpose two-wheel EV solution for corporate and fleet operators,” he added.
The charge-and-swap concept involves a battery pack much smaller than the battery in an electric car. At charge-and-swap stations, motorcycle riders simply swap out a used battery for a fresh one, which is much faster than cable-based charging.
Overseas, charge-and-swap systems are already being operated by players ranging from automotive giant Honda to electric motorcycle startup Charged. However, battery packs are typically proprietary in design and not interchangeable across systems.
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