Kymco launches ionex electric scooter

Specialist scooter manufacturer Kymco has unveiled the ionex electric scooter in Japan, one which it says will address the traditional concerns of buyers in the electric space.

One of those is range anxiety, which the Taiwanese manufacturer says it has mitigated by adopting core battery technology. The core battery remains permanently domiciled in the ionex, and it can be used when the other battery(ies) are being charged – whether at home or at public networks.

“Electric is one of the most significant transformations of personal transportation,” said Kymco chairman Allen Ko, who launched the ionex at the Marriot Hotel in Tokyo this afternoon.

“With Ionex, we want to make the world greener, to make our cities cleaner, and to make electric a practical reality for consumers worldwide. Kymco is committed to making an impact at the juncture of the most important transformation in recent history.”

The never-wait-for-charging is a massive selling point for Kymco – which released its first electric scooter 20 years ago – although it’s unclear how long the ionex will keep going (in kilometres or time) on just the core battery.

The ionex battery weighs less than 5kg, and two of them can be housed in an ‘energy bay’ which is located under the footwell – which also lowers the centre of gravity. Kymco says battery removal is “not only delightful, but cool to watch”.

At a touch of a button the energy bay opens, with the batteries ready to lift via a specially designed handle. When returning the batteries to the scooter, riders simply nudge the battery against the smart floor to trigger the bay door open. All very simple.

Charging solutions
The core battery solution helps to keep the ionex on the move, but charging is inevitable – and Kymco has committed to making that as easy as possible.

Of course, getting up to full charge at home is always the easiest option, but the infrastructure on the ionex goes beyond that with charging planned to be available at a variety of public locations, vending machine-type consoles open 24 hours a day, and ‘charge-friendly’ businesses. Of course, the establishment of public infrastructure often involves negotiations with governments – some more receptive to the electric cause than others.

Kymco also plans to make available extra battery rental, which can increase the range of the ionex out to 200km “without stopping”. A slight inaccuracy, as the riders will have to stop to swap batteries around… Kymco also doesn’t mention at what speed and intensity the 200km range can be procured.

Three extra batteries are vertically stacked under the seat.

It’s only the start
The ionex platform is just the start of a new era for Kymco, according to Mr Ko.

“In the next three years, Kymco plans to launch 10 electric models, establish charge networks in 20 countries, and sell over half a million electric vehicles worldwide,” he said.

“With the Ionex, together we start an open movement that celebrates one of the most important social missions of our time. Electric is a trend that can’t be reversed.”

That’s especially the case in Taiwan, which plans to phase out fuel-powered motorcycles by 2035.

In what form will the new models take over the next few years? According to Mr Ko, the ionex blueprint is “designed for mass-market scooters, not motorcycles”. Kymco has a number of scooters in its line-up – we recently sampled the very impressive AK550 – so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the architecture makes its way to the heavier, bigger-wheeled fare.

The ionex has 10-inch wheels.

Availability and price
The ionex will go on sale in Taiwan in late 2018, with price in that market to be announced in June. The ionex will then go on sale in other countries by 2019, with Australia included.

Next up for the ionex is its public debut at the 2018 Tokyo Motorcycle Show, which runs from March 23-25. Bikesales will be there to report on the latest from the Japanese motorcycle scene.