[Jiguo Broadcast] On May 29, five years after Taiwanese startup Gogoro first exhibited the electric scooter at the Consumer Electronics Show 2015, the company now launched the Eeyo 1 and Eeyo 1S electric bicycles, its first foray into the booming e-bike market.
Both cars are stylish open e-bikes for the high-end market. CEO Luke admitted: "We are not building traditional e-bikes. It doesn't have a large battery, it doesn't have a basket in front, and it doesn't have a big crossbar. I want to build a supercar-level bike."
So, when the Eeyo 1 enters its three major markets this summer (US, Europe and Taiwan), Gogoro will charge sports car-like prices. The 27.5-pound basic Eeyo 1 costs $3,899 (about RMB 27,678), and the top-end 26.4-pound Eeyo 1s costs $4,599 (about RMB 32,648), which makes the VanMoof $2,000 look very affordable. Both versions of Eeyo 1 electric bicycles are made of carbon fiber frames. This frame accounts for a considerable proportion of the price, but it also saves a lot of weight. The Eeyo 1 uses aluminum seat posts, wheels and handlebars, while the 1S model is all made of carbon fiber material . Eeyo 1 offers two options: soft "cloud blue" or bright "lobster orange". The Eeyo 1S adopts "warm white".
The most important thing is that the power of these two bicycles comes from Gogoro "Eeyo Smart Wheel". Instead of fixing the battery to the frame, Gogoro does not place the battery in the tube, but puts the battery in the rear wheel hub together with the motor and sensors.
Luke admits that they are not the first company to package all the e-bike technology in this way. But he said: "Other companies mostly use cheap steel as a solution. Gogoro is ready to provide this hub/battery/motor combination to other manufacturers, and perhaps even as a standalone product, which could become a whole new source of revenue." After a full charge, the 43.6-volt 123Wh battery in the Eeyo smart wheel can last about 40 miles, and will last about 55 miles in "energy-saving" mode. The electric bike has only pedal assist, so there is no independent throttle, and its top speed is 19 mph. The torque sensor in the smart wheel will continuously measure the rider's strength and transfer the battery's energy to the motor according to the mode in which the rider is in. The Eeyo bike is belt-driven (another carbon fiber material), which means there is little delay in power transmission and will cost less maintenance in the long run, and the entire bike is designed to reduce maintenance.
riders must prepare a wire with a u-type connector to charge the Eeyo 1, and the u-type connector needs to be connected to the hub of the smart wheel. Gogoro will sell optional charging stands to Eeyo 1 users so that there is no need for cables, and there will be an additional charging stand when purchasing the Eeyo 1. Although it is not as easy to charge as an electric bike with removable batteries. But Luke explained that an open frame and reasonable weight would make it easier to carry the electric bike up the stairs if needed.
These two versions of Eeyo 1 will be used together with a dedicated application that provides basic information about electric bicycles and can provide upgrade services for the car. Gogoro is selling an "auto lock" that is close to the Tesla (tesla) style. When the user approaches the bicycle, the motor will automatically unlock, and when the user leaves, the motor will fail. However, there is no other way to activate the bike at the moment, and the app will be the only way to change the riding mode.
Luke said Gogoro focuses on "flexibility and fun, not practicality". If practicality is pursued, Luke admits that an electric bike like the Rad Power e-bike might be more suitable. On the contrary, if you pursue high-end, avant-garde design, and boldness, then Eeyo1 will be the only choice.
Luke promises that Eeyo1 has an excellent riding experience, especially the sturdy quality and a lighter frame.He hopes that the design and riding quality of the Eeyo 1 will inspire other e-bike manufacturers to add more sports car ideas to their utility vehicles, giving people a "more fun way to travel." He said that in no time, a smart steering wheel will be launched.
