CES 2015 Live: Former HTC execs launch electric Gogoro Smartscooter that doesn’t need to be plugged in

Electric cars have been the buzzword for a few years bu now a couple of former HTC executives want to transform how most of the emerging countries commute with their electric scooter. However, there is a catch, their Gogoro Smartscooter doesn’t need to be plugged in to charge its battery. In fact, it can’t be plugged in.

In stealth mode since its foundation in 2011, Gogoro has unveiled its vision and first electric scooter at CES 2015. But unlike most electric cars, where one had to initially compromise on speed, form and functionality, the Gogoro Smartscooter comes with all the bells and whistles. With a top speed of 95kmph, it can go from 0 to 50kmph in 4.2 seconds.

But instead of plugging in the scooter at the end of the day to charge its battery, Gogoro is betting on batteries that riders would swap at GoStations. The company would set up a Gogoro Energy Network in cities where it launches. The Smartscooter is powered by two batteries that will provide it a range of 100km.

The Panasonic manufactured batteries are housed under the seat and are easily swappable thanks to the green handle on the top. The battery also identifies the user and also stores diagnostics information about the scooter. The batteries come with 25 sensors, NFC connectivity and 256-bit security encryption.

Users will be able to swap their almost empty batteries with fully charged ones at a GoStation and the company says the process would take about six seconds to complete. Users will be able to reserve their batteries at a nearby GoStation from their smartphone app 10 minutes in advance. The key, however, would depend on how dense Gogoro Energy Network the company can build in cities.

The Gogoro Smartscooter comes with its own app that not only shows vital stats of the scooter but also lets users customize the dashboard, how the headlight and taillights function and even choose the sound the scooter makes on starting up. Users can also tweak settings for powerful performance or going the distance, depending upon the need.

The Smartscooter also has a “smart mode” that according to Gogoro, “analyzes your unique riding patterns; optimizing your power, tuning your torque, even dimming lights to help you maximize energy to go further and have more fun.”

There is no word yet on when and where Gogoro Smartscooter will launch but the company says it would happen later this year. There is no word on pricing either.

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