Summary
- Gogoro CEO Horace Luke’s last official function is in Latin America
- Gogoro launched in Colombia and Chile, partnering with companies like Tepel and Copec
- Luke stepped down in September and was replaced by Henry Chiang
- Gogoro has over 625,000 subscribers with a focus on Taiwan
- Copec in Chile and Terpel in Colombia are expanding fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles
Article
Gogoro CEO Horace Luke has been focusing on expanding the company’s presence in Latin America, with recent launches in Bogota, Colombia, and Santiago, Chile. These launches have been made possible through partnerships with fuel and lubricant companies Tepel in Colombia and Copec in Chile. Copec, in particular, has been heavily investing in expanding its charging infrastructure and developing an extensive network of public charging stations across Chile to support the country’s ambitious electric vehicle vision.
Despite facing financial difficulties, Gogoro remains viable with over 625,000 accumulated subscribers and 1.4 million smart batteries in circulation. The company’s battery swapping services account for over 40% of its revenue, with more battery swapping stations than gas stations. Gogoro’s system has already saved over 870,750 tons of CO2 emissions through over 400,000 daily battery swaps. Henry Chiang took over as the interim CEO and GM of Gogoro Taiwan after Horace Luke stepped down earlier this year.
In Chile, Copec launched Gogoro battery swapping stations in Santiago and plans to reach 18 stations by year-end. Copec, along with its subsidiary Copec Voltex, has been leading initiatives to electrify public bus fleets in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. The partnership with Gogoro in Chile aligns with the country’s goal to achieve 100% zero-emission vehicle sales for commercial vehicles and public transportation by 2035. Copec Voltex CEO Andrea Castro emphasized their commitment to developing sustainable solutions to lead the energy transition towards carbon neutrality.
In Colombia, the partnership between Terpel and Gogoro aims to deliver a comprehensive solution to promote electric mobility. Terpel is deploying Gogoro’s battery swapping stations in Bogota, initially at four locations with plans to expand to 14 stations by the end of 2024. The focus is on offering quick and convenient battery swaps to encourage more people to embrace electric mobility and support Colombia’s decarbonization goals. Gogoro is also introducing its electric smartscooters in Colombia, providing an alternative to traditional gas-powered vehicles.
Both Chile and Colombia are seeing a shift towards electric mobility, with a particular focus on fast charging technology and segmenting charging solutions for various vehicle types, including industrial vehicles. The Gogoro Network of battery-swap stations has been deployed in strategic locations across Santiago, ensuring fast and convenient access for riders. The partnerships with Copec and Terpel aim to advance the adoption of electric vehicles in these countries and contribute to reducing carbon emissions. Andrea Castro reiterated Copec’s commitment to developing sustainable solutions and transitioning to electric and hybrid vehicles over the next decade.
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