Hero MotoCorp recently joined hands with Taiwan-based electric mobility solutions company, Gogoro. Gogoro also has expertise in building a Battery Swapping Network, evident by nearly 2,100 battery swapping stations in its Taiwan network. The brand also manages 265,000 daily battery swaps per day and over 174 million battery swaps from inception.
Now Hero MotoCorp is planning to bring the Gogoro Viva electric scooter to the Indian market. Our earlier report revealed that Hero MotoCorp would be developing an electric scooter in partnership with Gogoro. The brand also plans to develop battery swapping infrastructure in India as well.
Gogoro has filed patents for the Viva electric scooter in the Indian market. The brand could be planning to launch the electric scooter line-up in partnership with the Indian brand. It is also speculated that Hero could rebrand the Viva electric scooter, especially for the Indian market. Gogoro is also likely to market the Viva electric scooter under Hero MotoCorp’s vast dealership network.
The patent filing application dates back to 2019, and it is not clear why Hero MotoCorp has not launched the electric scooter in the Indian EV space. Hero MotoCorp could be planning to build the battery swapping ecosystem in major cities before it plans to launch the scooter. This will allow the brand to market the EV aggressively with competitors like Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube. Though Hero MotoCorp also holds nearly 35% stakes in Ather Energy, bringing Gogoro will also enhance competition.
The Gogoro Viva is a funky looking scooter with an eccentric and unique design language. The electric scooter features a unique front apron with a minimalist design and a well-rounded haunch. The Viva also features a capsule-like LED headlamp giving the scooter a contemporary look. The neck is thin and long and give the scooter a narrow and urban look and feel. But the Gogoro Viva comes with a generous footboard and chunky wheels. The tail section features a wraparound taillamp and a flat bench seat. The Gogoro Viva also features digital instruments and modern switchgear. The brand also offers a bunch of colour options on the nifty-looking scooter.
The Gogoro Viva in the Taiwan market comes with the industry’s only integrated motor and controller system. The powertrain also features a temperature-based thermal management system. The Viva is available in two variants; both come with a 3 kW GH1 Integrated Hub electric motor. But the basic motor produces 85 Nm of torque while the higher-spec ‘Keyless’ version makes 115 Nm of torque. The Gogoro Viva also features a unique rear swingarm, telescopic front fork suspension and disc brakes on both wheels with SBS (Synchronised Braking System). The scooter weighs 80 kgs and comes with an approachable 740mm of seat height.