Motorcycle Battery Fee Hikes Spark Controversy, Consumer Foundation Urges Standardized Contracts

(CNA) - The Consumers' Foundation has recently received multiple complaints regarding battery exchange service fees for electric motorcycles. The primary issue is that upon contract expiration, service providers cancel existing low-price plans and significantly increase battery fees, leading consumers to believe their rights have been affected. The Consumers' Foundation urges the government to quickly establish standardized contracts.

The Consumers' Foundation held a press conference today, stating that its central Taiwan branch has successively received multiple complaints concerning Gogoro Inc. (Ionex). Complainants pointed out that after their initial battery exchange fee plans expired, the company no longer offered the original low-fee plans and substantially raised the renewal threshold. This forces consumers to pay significantly increased monthly rental fees or battery usage fees, otherwise they cannot continue to use their purchased electric motorcycles normally.

The Consumers' Foundation provided an example: when a consumer purchased an electric motorcycle, they evaluated the purchase cost based on the battery exchange fee system provided by the company and signed the relevant Ionex contract. For models with two batteries, original fee plans such as NT$299 and NT$499 were available, with battery exchange service rates ranging from approximately NT$1.7 to NT$2.3 per Ampere-hour.

However, consumers complained to the Consumers' Foundation that after their original contracts expired, the company announced a new fee plan with a completely new pricing model, canceling the original low monthly rental plans. The minimum monthly rental threshold for two-battery models has been raised to NT$518 and above. Furthermore, the battery exchange service rate has been changed to "NT$100 per kWh" (the original NT$1.7 per Ampere-hour was approximately NT$34 per kWh), which is a de facto price increase.

The Consumers' Foundation also inquired about the situation with Gogoro Inc. The Consumers' Foundation stated that Gogoro Inc. replied in writing that the original contract rental period is 24 months. After the contract expires, if consumers wish to continue using the service, they should renew their contract according to the company's latest announced fee plan at that time, and all relevant notifications were handled in accordance with the contract.

The Consumers' Foundation pointed out that after consumers purchase specific brands of electric motorcycles based on policy incentives and the usage commitments provided by the company, they may lose the possibility of choosing other service providers because the battery exchange service and energy management system are entirely controlled by a single company. They are forced to passively accept the company's fee adjustments or contract changes. Consumers are not only in a clearly disadvantaged position but also face the risk of their contractual rights being eroded.

The Consumers' Foundation believes that if companies are allowed to unilaterally change transaction conditions, it could weaken public trust in electric vehicles and related policies, running counter to the government's policy goals of promoting green transportation and sustainable development.

The Consumers' Foundation stated that this dispute is no longer a simple price adjustment issue. It involves significant consumer protection issues such as the fairness of standardized contracts, the abuse of market dominant positions, the deprivation of consumers' reasonable right to choose, and the inadequacy of current regulations for battery exchange services. These issues deserve government attention. The Fair Trade Commission should proactively investigate whether the dispute involves the abuse of market dominant positions or anti-competitive practices.

The Consumers' Foundation stated that battery exchange services, as an indispensable part of electric motorcycle operation, still lack exclusive standardized contract regulations. Most companies design their own contract terms, including renewal methods and price adjustment mechanisms. Consumers often can only choose to accept or abandon the service, lacking genuine negotiation space.

The Consumers' Foundation believes that since battery exchange services have become an important infrastructure in the public transportation ecosystem, the government should no longer treat them as ordinary private rental contracts. Instead, it should actively intervene. It is recommended that the Executive Yuan's Consumer Protection Department, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, study and formulate standardized contracts with minimum consumer protection standards. The competent authority should establish a battery exchange service information disclosure mechanism, requiring companies to clearly disclose future renewal risks and fee change principles when selling vehicles.

The Consumers' Foundation also suggested that Gogoro Inc. proactively negotiate with consumers, review the renewal fee system, and retain reasonable low-usage plans to avoid placing an excessive burden on light users.

The Consumers' Foundation calls on the government to, while promoting green transportation policies, not only provide subsidies for vehicle purchases but also simultaneously establish a backend service supervision system to prevent consumers from becoming victims of systemic loopholes. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150629)