Kenya's nationwide e-bike scheme plans revealed

author: FutureCar Staff    

The Kenyan government has announced plans to introduce electric motorbikes across the country. President William Ruto revealed the initiative in partnership with African startup Spiro, just days before hosting the first Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi. Kenya currently has about two million motorbikes on its roads, primarily used as taxis known as "boda bodas". Ruto emphasized the importance of adopting electric mobility to address pollution, health issues, and fuel costs.

Ruto warned that the widespread use of combustion engine-powered motorbikes in Africa has significant implications for climate change and air quality. Although Africa only contributes 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is disproportionately affected by climate change. Spiro has already introduced nearly 10,000 electric bikes in several African countries, including Benin, Togo, Rwanda, and Uganda. The company plans to establish 3,000 battery-charging and swapping stations in Kenya, in addition to the 350 already present across Africa.

President Ruto aims for Kenya to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources, such as hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, and wind power, by 2030. Currently, over 90% of the country's energy comes from renewables. However, Kenya still faces challenges with frequent power cuts. A recent major outage left several regions, including Nairobi and its international airport, without electricity for hours. Additionally, Kenyans are struggling with soaring fuel prices, which have reached their highest levels in over a decade.

Despite these challenges, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Kenya remains low. According to government figures, less than 1% of the total 4.4 million registered vehicles are electric. The government's partnership with Spiro and the rollout of electric motorbikes are significant steps towards a more sustainable transportation system and a greener future for Kenya.

FutureCar Staff