Interview: Allen Ko, Chairman, KYMCO

What's a Taiwanese scooter manufacturer doing at the Paris Motor Show? Potentially revolutionising urban mobility. At least that's the idea at KYMCO, which was out in force at the Mondial de l'Auto 2018. Alongside the displays from Le Mans, Peugeot Motocycles and the Fédération Française de Motocyclism, KYMCO proudly showcased its new Ionex Commercial platform and range of all-electric, affordable scooters. Earlier this year it launched the original range of Ionex scooters for use by private owners, but the announcements from Paris were all about the commercial potential.

Delivery companies across Asia and Europe are increasingly turning to these eco-friendly, agile alternatives, particularly in crowded urban environments. The Ionex scooters use 50-volt, 650Wh lithium-ion batteries. Weighing about 5kg, these batteries can be easily removed and swapped at designated charging stations for fully charged ones. The scooters are designed to hold two or more batteries, allowing for longer range. Notably, the core battery offers a range of just 20km, shorter than many competitors. However, Chairman Allen Ko is convinced this is the technology needed to win over large numbers of businesses and government fleets to go electric.