AUTOMOTIVE retailer Cycle & Carriage (C&C) has signed an agreement with Nasdaq-listed Taiwanese firm Gogoro to be an exclusive distributor of the latter’s battery-swopping systems and electric scooters in Singapore, C&C announced on Wednesday (Jul 17).
The two-wheeled electric vehicles (EVs) are alternatives to motorcycles with internal combustion engines.
C&C, which is a member of mainboard-listed Jardine C&C, said that it is looking to expand its portfolio in the country with two-wheeled EVs and battery-swopping systems.
The company will introduce three Gogoro EV models by the fourth quarter of 2024. Dedicated battery-swopping and charging sites – known as GoStations – are also expected to be rolled out in Singapore.
Along with obtaining licensing rights to install these facilities, C&C is also partnering with Shell Recharge to launch GoStations across petrol pumps in the country.
Gogoro’s battery-swopping network allows its users to pick up fully charged batteries at designated locations and exchange them for drained ones, with each swop allowing riders to travel up to 100 km.
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It has been rolled out in more than 2,500 locations across Taiwan.
Gogoro estimates that its electric refuelling solution has avoided more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
In 2023, Gogoro, C&C and foodpanda established a partnership to trial Gogoro’s scooters and battery-swopping platform in Singapore.
“The positive feedback from foodpanda riders and valuable data gained from the sandbox pilot have given us confidence to commercialise Gogoro (products) in Singapore,” said Wilfrid Foo, managing director of C&C Singapore.
C&C noted that riders who participated in the pilot test reported high satisfaction scores, commending the ease of swopping batteries for their vehicles and the smooth riding experience.
The pilot will be completed by September this year.
Singapore’s third GoStation is expected to be completed in August 2024, with a showroom for the EVs ready by the fourth quarter. Two stations have been set up – in Alexandra Road and at Ubi – as part of the pilot.
Shares of Jardine C&C closed S$0.34 or 1.3 per cent lower at S$25.24 on Wednesday.
