BARANGAY San Antonio in Pasig City launched a battery-swapping station in the Ortigas Center business district Saturday.
Done in partnership with E88 Ventures Inc., the initiative aims to cater to the city’s growing number of electric motorcycle riders. It allows riders to trade depleted batteries for fully charged units via a mobile application, a process that takes under a minute to complete compared to the standard six-hour plug-in charging time. Village officials identified the site on General Segundo Street as a high-traffic link between residential zones and commercial hubs like Estancia and Capitol Commons.
”San Antonio village now has its first battery-swapping site for electric vehicles, marking another step forward in promoting sustainable mobility in our community,” said village chairman Raymond Lising.
E88 Ventures co-founder and chief commercial officer Greg Rivera said the location was chosen to accommodate the steady flow of delivery riders and commuters passing through the heart of the Ortigas district.
“In just a few seconds, you can swap and be ready to travel again, unlike other electric vehicles that need up to six hours of charging before you can leave,” Rivera said.
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The station currently services RideBox batteries, which are compatible with NRD electric motorcycles. Proponents of the project claim the shift to swapping will help reduce both tailpipe emissions and noise pollution in the congested urban center.
“RideBox greatly helps sustainability because the batteries and electric motorcycles produce zero emissions during use, which helps reduce air pollution in urban areas like Pasig,” Rivera added.
To address safety concerns regarding lithium-ion batteries in public spaces, the units carry an IP67 waterproof rating. The storage lockers are also equipped with automatic fire suppression and smoke detection systems that activate independently in each compartment.
“Each locker compartment has its own fire extinguisher and smoke detector that automatically activates when smoke or fire is detected to prevent any danger,” Rivera said.
The service operates on both pay-per-use and subscription-based models, including an unlimited battery-swapping plan. Following the launch in Pasig, E88 Ventures stated it plans to expand the station network across Metro Manila to improve the practicality of electric two-wheelers for everyday transport.
