Gogoro set to roll out new range of cheaper Electric Scooters

by Benson Agoha | Technology

New Taiwan Startup is to roll out new smart and cheaper bikes from July, 25, 2015, but how much will they cost?

(Credit: via Focus Taiwan News Channel)

Gogoro, a new start-up based  in Taipei, Taiwan - is an electric motor-cycle manufacturer, founded by former employees of HTC.  The company said it is set to roll out cutter, smarter scooters that will cost cheaper.

And to make it work, the company says it is making available it's charging stations all over the city where they are "easy to find and simple to use".  But they are available for battery swaps 24 hours a day. And for lover of colour, the company says with GogoroPlus customers even get more colours to choose from.

Furthermore, because change is good the company spends time to perfect the bike and make it easier to modify through some electronic features.  You can `change it, tune it, refresh it, and simply make your own'. You can even mix things up right from the front panel that swaps out.

And the brains behind it? Former workers of HTC, Taiwan - the smart phone maker that seals both phone an phone and battery. So like HTC, this range of motor bikes are unique.

Horace Luke, is CEO and his co-founder is Matt Taylor who was a technology officer at HTC. Both men say they are supportive of the philanthropic stance of Warren Buffet and Bill Gates and are therefore making the machines cheap.

So how much do they cost? According to Focus Taiwan report, Wednesday The Taiwanese Startup executives announced "..Wednesday its pricing and battery swapping station network for its electric scooters as they company aims to build smart vehicles for cities."

Going further, the Taiwanese News Chanel said "The Gogoro Smartscooter will begin delivery July 25, starting from NT$128,000 (US$4,147) or (£2,635)," adding that there is a monthly fee of NT$899, about (£20) for an unlimited battery-swap service, the company said at a press event in Taipei".

CEO, Horace Luke was quoted as saying "We have been very well received because 97.4 percent of the 3,521 people who have tested the Smartscooter are satisfied with the electric vehicle."

And according to the Vice President, the company, the start-up expects to hit the ground running saying "I expect the company not to make too much loss in its first year of operations because running such a new business model requires heavy investment."

It is not yet clear when the scooters will be available for the British Market or whether the above prices will hold in Britain.

* by Benson Agoha (with contributions from Gogoro, TechCrunch and Focus Taiwan News Channel)