It’s Not Just for Cars Anymore — Apple Wallet Adds ‘Scooter Keys’

Apple Wallet, one of the best and most secure apps you’ll find on your iPhone, just got better. 

Wallet is already a fantastic app. You can use it to store your credit cards, digital IDs like driver’s licenses, and even your car keys and house keys. Now, Apple just made it even better, with the ability to use your Wallet app to unlock your electric scooter. 

Sure, it sounds like a very niche feature, but it will definitely be helpful for the thousands of electric scooter owners out there. 

If you want to make the most out of your new digital “Scooter Keys,” and you have the right scooter to use this feature, here’s what you need to know.

You Can Now Add Your Scooter Key to the Wallet App

One of the newest features added to the iPhone and Apple watch is the ability to add your very own scooter key. Just like the car key, this key will help you unlock your scooter with your iPhone just by placing it near the scooter.

While this is a cool new feature, not every scooter is supported just yet. For now, you’ll need a compatible Gogoro scooter to use it. While not everyone has a Gogoro, this new feature will make life easier for the owners of more than 300,000 existing scooters in Taiwan alone, according to TechCrunch. 

If you have a Gogoro smart scooter, you’ll need to make sure it has NFC available to use this feature, and you’ll also need to have an iPhone XS or a newer model with the latest version of iOS 17 installed. 

If you want to use the scooter key on your Apple Watch, you’ll need an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, an Apple Watch SE, or an Apple Watch Ultra. You’ll also need to download the latest version of watchOS 10.

How to Add Your Scooter Key to Your iPhone’s Wallet App

Using your scooter key in your Wallet app is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to first download the Gogoro app from the App Store if you haven’t already. You’ll also need to register your scooter, if you haven’t already.

Once you’ve done those things, follow these steps:

1. Open the Gogoro app and tap the iQ tab.
2. Select the scooter key in Apple Wallet and then follow the instructions on your screen.
3. When you finish, the Gogoro app will take you to the Wallet app. Tap on Add.
4. Use your Face ID or passcode to add your scooter key.

And that’s it. Once you’ve added the key to your iPhone, you can go to the Watch app on your iPhone, scroll down, and tap on the Wallet & Apple Pay option. 

Next, tap on Add next to your scooter key and follow the instructions to add it to your Apple Watch.

You’ll also notice a new Express Mode available once you add the key. This feature will let you unlock your scooter even if you don’t have your iPhone unlocked — or even if your iPhone or Apple Watch battery has gone dead.

How to Use Your iPhone or Apple Watch to Unlock Your Smart Scooter

Now that the key is added to your iPhone and Apple Watch, all you need to do is use it.

First, to unlock or lock your scooter, you’ll need to hold your iPhone or Apple Watch in the scooter’s NFC reader. This will lock or unlock the scooter, depending on how it was before.

After you unlock it, you can start your scooter by holding down the brake and then pressing the Go button on your scooter. And that’s it. You can now turn it off again by doing the same thing.

In addition to support for Apple Wallet, Gogoro plans to integrate its Smartscooters with Apple’s Find My Network, allowing owners to locate their scooters from the Find My app. The company plans to bring it to new models like the new Gogoro CrossOver S first, although it will eventually come to “the entire Gogoro portfolio.”

Take Your Scooter for a Ride

Apple has made it incredibly easy to use your smart scooter with nothing but your iPhone. All you’ll need is the right scooter and follow the steps above to get started.

Sure, not everyone has a Gogoro smart scooter, but this is probably just the beginning. We might see new scooters available in the future, and now you’ll be ready when the time comes.