07/09/2023 (Indonesia/ Vietnam) - Gojek, the Indonesian ride-hailing giant, sought efficient electric motorbike charging solutions for its drivers in Vietnam. Collaborating with Selex, a Vietnamese startup entrenched in electric vehicles and battery networks already utilized by industry peers like Grab and Lazada, Gojek ensured its drivers using Selex electric bikes had home chargers and access to Selex's "battery ATMs" for quick battery swaps.
This partnership expanded Selex's network as its batteries were compatible with rival scooters, encouraging more drivers to use their battery swap stations. Selex highlighted the appeal of speed and cost savings, with battery swaps taking just two minutes and offering a 35% reduction in energy consumption and a 50% decrease in maintenance costs compared to traditional combustion-engine motorbikes.
Vietnam, a significant motorbike market, was transitioning to electric vehicles due to its tropical climate and frequent monsoon seasons causing flash floods. Gojek, besides partnering with Selex, sourced electric vehicles from Dat Bike in Vietnam and invested in Electrum in Indonesia, aiming to produce up to one million electric motorbikes annually.
Sumit Rathor, Gojek Vietnam's general manager, emphasized this partnership supported GoTo Group's commitment to achieving zero emissions and transitioning its entire fleet to 100% electric vehicles by 2030. GoTo Group resulted from the merger of Gojek with local e-commerce giant Tokopedia.
Selex's bikes, with a 150-kilometer range and a cost of around $1,000 (excluding a battery-swap subscription), could be adapted for transporting packages or passengers. CEO Nguyen Nguyen likened the battery swap concept to gas stations, enabling users to spread the battery cost over time.
Regarding Gojek's electric vehicle plans, specific details were not provided, but the company indicated that EVs would serve transportation needs for riders, food delivery, and package delivery.
Selex secured investments from ADB Ventures, Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia, and Vietnam's Touchstone Partners, and it had established EV partnerships with Baemin, Viettel, and DHL.