Galp joined forces with the micro-mobility fleet management operator Boost Logistics and the green technology startup Swobbee to launch the first network of battery swapping stations for electric bicycles in Portugal. The process of installing the first three stations in Lisbon was completed this Monday, with the inauguration of a new space on Avenida Brasília.
Developed in a "charging as a service" model, this pioneering project in Portugal is still in a pilot phase, with the goals of testing the technology, evaluating the user experience and quantifying the operating costs and savings obtained. In the first phase, these stations will be of exclusive use by Boost Logistics, but in the future the solution may be extended to the B2C segment.
In addition to the station inaugurated this Monday, the other battery replacement stations are located next to Galp's service areas in Avenida da Índia and Avenida Duarte Pacheco. All stations are available 24 hours a day. In the case of the space in Avenida Brasília, inaugurated this Monday, the installation of the charging station was supported by the Port of Lisbon (APDL), which provided the space occupied by the equipment.
The battery swapping stations are modular, containing 5 drawers that accommodate a total of 20 batteries and allow the replacement of discharged batteries of micro-mobility vehicles, in this case electric bicycles, in a few seconds. The use of the equipment is 100% digital and performed through a smartphone app.
This is, therefore, a service that makes the charging logistics and fleet management operations of electric vehicles more efficient and sustainable, with a decentralized charging network, more accessible and closer to the micro-mobility vehicles. This proximity also allows the introduction of new ways of transport that help reduce the operation's carbon footprint. An example of this is the introduction of a "cargo bike" by the fleet management operator (Boost Logistics) in the Belém area, taking advantage of two strategically positioned stations to ensure the operation in the riverside area.
The technology of this service was developed by the German technology startup Swobbee, headquartered in Berlin, and with whom Galp also established a partnership to launch the first stations to swap electric batteries for micro-mobility vehicles in the city of Madrid, Spain. In the Spanish case, the partnership also has the association of the mobility services company Bolt.
"Galp has been a pioneer and leader in electric mobility services in Portugal for more than a decade and we have ambitious goals to strengthen our presence in mobility and electric micro-mobility on an Iberian scale, because we know that the energy transition also involves diversifying mobility models. This ambition forces us to always be at the technological forefront, looking for the best partners and the best solutions to provide services that make our customers' lives easier. This project is a perfect example of that vision," said Teresa Abecasis, COO of Galp, at the inauguration of the Brasília Avenue station.
"We are very pleased to be working with these strong partners to make micro-mobility in Lisbon even more attractive. For Swobbee, this is also an important first step in the Portuguese market, which has proven to be very dynamic in adopting urban micro-mobility strategies and services," said Thomas Duscha, CEO and co-founder of Swobbee.
“We are always looking for new aways to improve the sustainability and efficiency of our operations. With the strategic locations of GALP, the Swobbee Cabinets we will have a smoother operation, being able to reduce the time and distance per swap. Using electric cargo bikes we will ensure a fully environmentally friendly operation. This cooperation is the very beginning for a net-zero balancing operation in order to reach a fully sustainable role for our clients”, said Boost’s administrator Leonel Soares.
In the first 2 months of operation of this pilot project in Portugal more than 3,500 battery swaps have already taken place, corresponding to more than 2.7 MWh of charged energy.