How Copec is Bringing Gogoro Battery Swapping to Santiago
Copec, an energy company in Latin America, has announced a partnership with Gogoro Inc., a leader in battery-swapping technology, to introduce Gogoro's innovative Smartscooters and battery-swapping stations in Santiago, Chile.
The launch marks Chile's first-ever battery-swapping platform for two-wheel vehicles and significantly advances sustainable urban mobility.
The partnership begins with 10 Gogoro battery-swapping stations throughout Santiago and plans to reach 18 stations by the end of the year.
Henry Chiang, Interim CEO of Gogoro, comments: "It is exciting to see the Gogoro ecosystem expanding in Latin America, first with Terpel in Bogotá and now with Copec Voltex in Santiago.
"Gogoro battery swapping offers a new approach to electric two-wheel refuelling that doesn't require dedicated parking or waiting for a vehicle to charge."
Convenient, sustainable transportation for Chilean riders
The initiative allows Copec Voltex, Copec's electromobility division, to create a network of strategically located battery-swap stations across Santiago.
The stations are hosted at Copec service locations in critical areas such as La Reina, Ñuñoa, Santiago, La Florida, Huechuraba, Vitacura, Lo Barnechea and Estación Central. This network means fast and easy battery swaps for Santiago's riders, removing the need for lengthy charging waits and making electric two-wheel commuting practical.
The new ecosystem includes a flexible subscription-based model tailored to each rider's needs, making it affordable for daily commuters and logistics providers seeking sustainable solutions for urban delivery.
"At Copec, our commitment to Chile drives us to develop sustainable, scalable solutions that anticipate people's needs," Andrea Castro, CEO of Copec Voltex, adds.
"Our partnership with Gogoro lets us offer an innovative charging solution that redefines city travel, lowering barriers to entry and bringing electric mobility to a new group of Chileans seeking more efficient and sustainable transportation."
How Gogoro battery swapping works
Gogoro's battery-swapping platform is recognised globally as the leading solution for two-wheel EV refuelling. It boasts a smart, secure and adaptable system designed to meet the demands of city life.
Instead of charging a vehicle on-site, riders can swap out their depleted battery for a fully charged one in seconds, eliminating downtime.
Gogoro has had a significant impact worldwide, with a vast network of 12,500 battery-swapping stations across Taiwan that support nearly 650,000 riders.
More than 1.3 million Gogoro smart batteries are in circulation, power an impressive 400,000 swaps each day and have collectively saved over one billion kilograms of CO2 emissions since 2015. Gogoro's global success highlights the potential of this model to transform urban transportation in Santiago and beyond.
Copec's commitment to clean energy transition
Copec, with its extensive energy and retail footprint in Latin America, is well-positioned to drive the energy transition across the region.
The company operates over 3,000 service stations and retail stores throughout Latin America, including South America's largest electric charging network, which spans 1,800 kilometres across Chile.
In 2019, Copec launched Copec Wind to explore new trends in energy and mobility, with Copec Voltex leading its electromobility division.
"With Gogoro, Copec is developing the first Latin American network of battery swapping stations that is launching at Copec service stations in Santiago, Chile and with Terpel's service stations in Bogotá, Colombia," Andrea says.
Through this growing network, Copec aims to make sustainable energy solutions accessible to more people and pave the way for a cleaner, greener urban landscape.
A model for sustainable mobility across Latin America
The launch is part of Copec's strategy to meet the demands of the clean energy transition and align with carbon neutrality goals. With Gogoro's battery-swapping technology, Copec is expanding the possibilities for EV adoption by making charging convenient, fast and reliable.
The Gogoro battery-swapping stations represent a pioneering approach for the region, providing a model for other Latin American cities aiming to implement sustainable mobility solutions.
As Gogoro's Henry highlights: "We are proud of our partnership with Copec and applaud its mission to offer sustainable transportation alternatives in Latin America."
The collaboration between Copec and Gogoro marks a substantial leap forward in Latin America's journey toward sustainable urban mobility.
As more Chileans make the shift to Smartscooters, Santiago may soon serve as a case study in the success of battery-swapping technology.
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