The electric scooter brand Kymco is preparing to deploy its first battery exchange stations, first in Italy and then in the rest of Europe.
Like cars, electric scooters have become more and more popular in recent years. Many brands are getting into it, such as BMW, with its CE 04 or Vespa, which launched its Electrica in 2019, equipped with a small zero-emission engine. A trend which is also accelerating more and more, while two-wheelers are also concerned by the ZFEs in the major French cities.
No wonder manufacturers are turning to electric, like the Taiwanese Kymco, which announced last December the launch of six trendy models. Their particularity? They will all be equipped with an exchangeable battery technology called Ionex. An innovation presented in 2018 at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, which should soon be available to customers.
A first test in Italy
Already presented several years ago, this innovative system is therefore about to make its arrival in Europe, first in Italy, then undoubtedly on the rest of the continent. A new stage in the development of the Asian brand on the territory as it markets several zero-emission models in France, such as the Agility EV as well as its Carry version, adapted to the transport of goods for professionals.
Very similar to the system offered by its main rival, Gogoro, that of Kymco takes the form of a large box made up of several compartments, each housing a battery. When a user runs out of electric range, all they have to do is remove that from their scooter and take a new one, which will then be fully charged. The one he left will be refilled and will be used for another user.
An advantageous solution
As our colleagues fromElectrek, the interchangeable batteries can also be recharged on a standard outlet, at home. Nevertheless, exchange stations are very practical for users who do not have space or who are often on the move. In addition, all models in the range are compatible with this innovative solution, which should be deployed throughout Europe shortly.
According to Kymco’s French catalog, the batteries fitted to the brand’s electric scooters can travel around 35 kilometers on a single charge and weigh only five kilos. Equipped with a handle, they are then very easy to carry with one hand.
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