Kenya has revealed an ambitious plan to roll out electric motorbikes across the country as part of a green transport initiative to cut down carbon emissions and pollution.
A member of Spiro staff sits on a electric motorcycle during the national launch of an electric motorcycle project dubbed e-bodaboda at Kenyan Coastal city of Mombasa on September 1, 2023. The initiative launched by Kenya's President William Ruto is a collaboration between the Government of Kenya and Spiro, an electric two-wheeler company.This agreement, centred around the delivery of over a million (1.2 million) electric motorcycles and the establishment of more than 3,000 swapping stations in Kenya.
Electric Bikes in Kenya
According to AFP, Kenyan President William Ruto announced this with African startup Spiro on Friday, just days before hosting the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi.
Speaking at the launch event in Mombasa, Ruto emphasized the country's commitment to enhancing climate action through innovative and sustainable energy technologies.
Ruto revealed that Kenya currently possesses 1,000 electric bikes, with an additional 10,000 on the way. Spiro has also built a facility that can assemble 1,000 of these vehicles each day.
The initiative is particularly significant in a country where approximately two million motorbikes are in use, primarily "boda bodas," or two-wheeled taxis, which are widely employed across Africa.
"The adoption of electric mobility is a high-priority intervention to address the challenges of pollution, adverse health effects, and fuel costs," Ruto noted.
Kenya's long-term goal is to phase out combustion engine-powered motorbikes, recognizing the significant environmental implications associated with their increasing use across the continent.
Despite Africa's modest contribution of 2-3% to global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent disproportionately bears the brunt of climate change's adverse effects. Spiro has already introduced nearly 10,000 electric bikes in several African nations, including Benin, Togo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
The company's ambitious plan includes establishing 3,000 battery charging and swapping stations in Kenya in addition to the 350 already operational across the continent. The ultimate aim is to have over one million electric vehicles in operation throughout Kenya.
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Uber Launches E-Bikes in Kenya
In a related development, Uber, a US-based ride-hailing service, recently revealed its launch of electric motorcycle taxis in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a significant strategic move for the company in the African market.
Uber's initial plan is to introduce approximately 3,000 electric bikes, expecting to reduce drivers' operational costs by 30-35% and decrease fares by 15-20%. This initiative aligns with Uber's global commitment to transitioning into a zero-emissions platform by 2040.
According to the World Bank, Kenya's "boda boda" sector provides employment to over 1.5 million young individuals and contributes around Ksh 202 billion ($1.4 billion) to the national economy annually.
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