Table of contents:
Video: Interchangeable batteries point to the future of electric motorcycles, and Kymco already has a service running around the clock
2024 Author: Nicholas Abramson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-10 16:34
The Korean company Kymco yesterday surprised the world with the announcement of a new service for its customers with which to promote electric mobility. This is IONEX Recharge, an assistance that tries to completely solve one of the biggest inconveniences of vehicles powered by electric energy, recharging and waiting.
The solution they have proposed is to create a 24-hour exchange service and battery deliveries on user demand. This functionality would be carried out thanks to an app where we can tell you the place and time you need it so that when you go to use your motorcycle it is always at 100% battery.
15 euros per month with 10 replacements included
The idea presented by Allen Ko, president of the Kymco Group, in Taiwan aims to respond to the need to shorten waiting times When it comes to recharging our electric motorcycle and at the same time encouraging its use, since the more battery you have to enjoy your motorcycle, the more you will use it. An approach that at first may work but that seems somewhat fanciful to us.
Lets start by the beginning. This service called IONEX Recharge is the first in the world to offer, on demand, a delivery or exchange of batteries. With him Kymco pretends ensure energy availability sufficient at all times to the customers of urban electric scooters. As reported, they will be able to choose the time and moment in which to receive, even at night, the battery replacement through the IONEX application of the mobile phone.
"We will change batteries to customers anywhere and at any time," explained Allen Ko. "We are determined to boost the speed of our foray into the electrical world. Kymco offers a immediate solution to recharging difficulties in homes and installation of battery exchange stations ".
To guarantee service, please use a subscription model with which it offers three advantages. Saving time and comfort; battery availability always and responsibility with the environment, since recharges are made with renewable energy. At the moment the service is present in six cities in Taiwan and has a cost of 15 euros per month with ten battery replacements included. In addition, as an introductory offer, users of the S6, S7 and S7R models in Taiwan will be able to enjoy it for free until the end of the year.
To be able to enjoy this service, the motorcycles must be located in public spaces and have a new lock on the seat (replacement is free at official IONEX points) so that service employees can open and replace the batteries without problems.
Measures that they seem questionable to us since nobody assures us that the personal belongings that we have in our vehicle (if we decide to leave them as you would on your motorcycle) cannot be stolen.
Another issue that comes to mind is the batteries themselves. We understand that the exchange will occur with brand new batteries because if by any chance you decide to stop being subscribed to this model, what would happen to them? Would they be replaced by new ones to offer you 100% healthy batteries? And what about the closure? Would it be changed back to a private one? for free?
They are unknowns that the brand itself must solve by making the way. We understand that the proposal being made in Taiwan is a "tester" in which to see if it is feasible to develop this idea globally. Although we doubt it a lot since only the costs of training a staff with split schedules and having batteries for all vehicles would be insane. However, we recognize that it is a good start to solving the great problems of battery-powered motorcycles.
Recommended:
Honda, KTM, Piaggio and Yamaha team up to make their electric motorcycles use the same interchangeable batteries
On March 1, Honda, KTM AG, Piaggio and Yamaha Motor announced their intention to create a joint consortium with the aim of developing regulations
KTM, Honda, Yamaha and the Piaggio Group have teamed up to use the same interchangeable batteries in their electric motorcycles
The motorcycle manufacturers KTM AG, Honda, Yamaha and the Piaggio Group have agreed to sign an agreement for the development of a common battery system
Silence returns to manufacturing batteries after the fire at its plant and already has the first SEAT electric motorcycles ready
Silence has communicated that the production of batteries for its electric motorcycles has already started again after five weeks of stoppage due to the fire that
Gogoro invites other electric motorcycles to use its network of interchangeable batteries
Users have been crying out for it for a long time: they want a solution to the problem of autonomy in electric vehicles, both in cars
Kymco Ionex: an ecosystem of interchangeable batteries for 10 new electric scooters in 3 years
A few days ago, Kymco announced to us that at the imminent Tokyo Salon they were going to present something very big. We were expecting a new scooter but for now what we