Africa aims for green transition with e-bikes

NAIROBI/KAMPALA — In Kenya's capital Nairobi, motorcycles have become an essential choice for residents due to their flexibility, convenience and affordability, with an increasing number of electric models on the roads.

Driven by growing environmental awareness and technological advancements, many African countries have begun actively promoting electric motorcycles in recent years to reduce pollution and shift toward sustainable transportation.

With the development of online motorcycle taxi services, the African motorcycle market is experiencing significant growth.

In Kenya, Africa's largest motorcycle taxi market, 5.2 million people are employed in the motorcycle transport sector, with 1 in 10 relying on motorcycles for their livelihood. Due to the recent surge in fuel prices, electric motorcycles have become the preferred option, as their cost per kilometer is only about 10 percent of gasoline-powered ones.

This advantage has led to a boom in electric motorcycles in the African market. According to the latest report by the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities think tank, the African motorcycle market is expected to reach $5.07 billion by 2027, with electric motorcycles becoming the dominant product in the transition to sustainable transport.

Reducing pollution

Many African countries are also considering ways to reduce pollution by promoting electric travel. Joyce Msuya, former deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said the rapid development of electric motorcycles in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and other African countries "will reduce costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as create jobs".

Based in Uganda's capital Kampala, Gogo Electric, one of the country's leading electric motorcycle manufacturers, imports lithium-ion batteries from China and assembles electric motorcycles for the local market.

Customers can always bring their used batteries to a battery swap station, where they can get a fully charged battery at a lower price, said Janos Bisasso, chief operations officer of Gogo Electric.

Bisasso said that over time, customers may realize that swapping batteries is less expensive than refueling, which may encourage them to choose electric motorcycles.

"China is an inspiration for many African companies in the field of electric transport," Bisasso said. "Gogo Electric plans to build the largest lithium-ion battery assembly plant in East Africa this year, and China is a key partner in this endeavor."

Xinhua