New EV player Hatasu introduces e-bike and e-trike models

The electric vehicle (EV) industry has a new player, Hatasu, and it plans to expand its market presence in Southeast Asia, eyeing the Philippines as its starting point.

With its models manufactured by EMOTO Electronic Technology, originally located in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, Hatasu is also bringing its three electric vehicles that fit the Filipino lifestyle: Kumi (e-bike), Mako (e-trike), and Nero (e-bike).

The Kumi runs on 14-inch tires and has a range of 45 kilometers per full charge. Its top speed is 25 kph, so it is exempt from LTO registration.

The Nero is a similar e-bike except for the slightly extended range of 55 kilometers.

And the Mako is an e-trike that seats three occupants (including the driver) and has a range of 60-75 kilometers. Top speed varies from 25 to 35 kph, depending on load. 

“We stayed here in the Philippines for several years, and we truly appreciate the country so much.  We are also staying true to our mission, to be a catalyst for change and to contribute to a greener environment,” says Cheng “Zac” Huang, CEO of Hatasu. “Expect the brand to be more visible to other parts of the region in the country in 2023 as we bring our services and products that will surely help ease and improve the transportation issues of Filipinos,” he added.

The year 2022 is an inspiring year for the brand as it opens its office in Ortigas and its first warehouse in Cainta, Rizal, and aims to open six more secondary warehouses in the country within the next two years to cater to the demand of the customers.

The company conducts electric vehicle business globally and is focused on integrating electric vehicle R&D, production, sales, and after-sales. Hatasu now establishes brand outlets, service platforms, and production plants overseas. The brand envisions reaching all Southeast Asian countries by 2025 and hopefully expanding to other countries globally. 

Hatasu products are designed to be youthful, fashionable, and practical. Their two-wheeled vehicles use a 48V 20A battery and a 350W motor which is comparable to the 48V 12A battery and 350W motor of standard models in the market at present.

During the recent Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit organized by the Electronic Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), a study was presented that shows the electric vehicle market for 2-wheels (e-bikes) and 3-wheels (e-trikes) has taken a dip in 2020 due to the pandemic. However, their numbers continue to show good potential for growth. The study also revealed that some countries in Southeast Asia, like Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, are the main markets for e-bikes. At the same time, the Philippines and Indonesia are the main e-trike markets.

Are Hatasu e-bikes better than the generic EVs we’ve already had in recent years? We’ll find out soon enough as we are already scheduled to test one of their EV models in the market. Watch out for our full review.