Medellín, 31 of May 2024. Unergy, a Colombian startup recognised for its innovations in renewable energy, has launched the pilot of a battery exchange system for electric motorcycles. This system, developed in collaboration with the BASE Foundation and with support from Integrate to Zero (I2Z), is the first of its kind in Colombia and constitutes a major leap towards building the country’s sustainable transportation infrastructure.

In Colombia, where there are over 12,000 electric motorbikes, the supply of effective battery charging solutions is critical. The new exchange station, located in the city of Medellín, not only facilitates the trips of electric motorcycle users by allowing a quick battery replacement, but also incorporates solar panels that power the station and return excess energy to the grid, maintaining Unergy’s commitment to the use of 100 percent renewable energy.

“With this station, charging time can be reduced from up to 8 hours to less than 5 minutes; when I learned about this battery exchange system, it significantly improved my work as a courier, and the central location of the station allows me to move around the city with peace of mind,” said Santiago Rodriguez, a Unergy user.

The pilot project involved 5 active registered users, completing a total of 98 battery swaps over 6 weeks. Furthermore, the average swap time was found to be a brisk 86 seconds.

From its launch in February 2024 to March 2024, the project evaluated the viability and effectiveness of a battery-swapping model in Medellín, Colombia, aimed at facilitating the use of electric motorcycles and promoting sustainable mobility. The project had an initial budget of USD 31,592 and a final expenditure of USD 31,446, thanks to efficient management that included the implementation of a 10 kWp solar system. This system reduced the cost of each battery swap from USD 2.1 to USD 1.8, highlighting the reduction in operating costs (14.3 percent) and the contribution to the project’s sustainability.

The battery exchange system is an innovative solution to improve mobility, sparing users the typical limitations and difficulties inherent to battery charging and greatly expanding mobility possibilities throughout the city. Electric motorcycles hold multiple financial and non-financial benefits compared to traditional vehicles, demonstrating, for instance, lower maintenance costs and significantly lower noise pollution. 

Unergy’s new initiative not only seeks to ease the use of electric motorcycles and enable mainstreaming of the solution but also to contribute to a significant reduction in air pollution and the carbon footprint of urban transportation. Vehicles, including motorcycles, are responsible for 78 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Colombia, according to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

This initiative marks an important milestone in the transition to electric and sustainable mobility in the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley and promises to expand to other regions of the country. Unergy continues to lead in the development of technologies that support sustainable infrastructure and democratise access to clean energy, reaffirming its mission to promote a more sustainable and equitable energy future for Colombia.

Unergy Quote:

“Our purpose has always been to close the financing gap to combat climate change and so far we have done so with solar energy, which is why now with electric mobility we are sure that we can go a step further and facilitate the efficient and environmentally friendly use of batteries through the exchange. Thanks to the project, we developed this first automatic station with which Muverang users will be able to use this service for free during the first 2 months.”

Says Eduardo Ospina, CEO and co-founder of Unergy

BASE Quote:

“Continued advancements in technology and infrastructure, coupled with targeted cost reduction strategies, will pave the way for a more accessible and sustainable transportation future. This pilot in Colombia builds from two other meticulously chosen demonstration projects were deployed in Mexico and Kenya. Our hope is that the feasibility and success of this project encourage similar projects in the region and beyond.”

Daniel Magallón, General Director of BASE