“In terms of electric mobility, China is a source of inspiration for many companies in Africa,” said Janosh Bisaso, an electric motorcycle manufacturer in Kampala, Uganda, when discussing Chinese-produced electric motorcycles and components.
Bisaso runs an electric motorcycle business in Kampala that imports lithium batteries from China and assembles them locally into electric motorcycles. He told reporters that customers who purchase motorcycles can enjoy a battery-swapping service, allowing them to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones at replacement stations at any time. For customers, this battery-swapping model is cheaper than refueling traditional gasoline motorcycles.
So far, Bisaso’s company has sold over 1,600 motorcycles and established more than 80 battery-swapping stations, deploying over 3,800 batteries within the swapping network. He expressed optimism, stating that as the number of customers continues to grow, the company plans to establish East Africa’s largest lithium battery assembly plant this year.
Bisaso noted that both battery technology and electric vehicle technology from China are excellent, and the components that African enterprises currently cannot obtain locally during operations are mostly sourced from China.
Uganda is just a microcosm of a larger trend. Increasingly, enterprises in various African countries are partnering with Chinese counterparts to tap into the vast market potential for electric motorcycles.
Motorcycles hold a special significance in the “road culture” of African countries. Due to their flexibility, convenience, and relatively low cost, motorcycles are an important means of transportation for many residents in Africa, serving not only as private transportation but also as a crucial public transport option.
With the rise of ride-hailing “boda-boda” services, the motorcycle market is poised for significant growth opportunities. Electric motorcycles offer advantages in cost and environmental impact over traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles, driving new changes in transportation across Africa.
In Kenya, 27-year-old Moses Kimani serves as the marketing manager for Hanlin (Africa), a new energy company from China. He praised the electric motorcycle product “boda-boda” produced by his company, saying, “The start-up speed and acceleration of Chinese electric motorcycles are very strong, completely matching that of gasoline motorcycles. They are very suitable for our environment—flexible and efficient.”
In a large warehouse on the outskirts of Nairobi, the team at electric motorcycle startup ARC Ride is busy processing hundreds of electric motorcycles and parts delivered from China. Although the company conducts research, assembly, and sales in Kenya, the main components are imported from China.
Kenya boasts the largest “boda-boda” market in Africa, with around 5.2 million people involved in motorcycle transportation services. It is said locally that one in every ten Kenyans relies on motorcycles for their livelihood. As fuel prices have risen in recent years, the operational cost of electric motorcycles is now only one-tenth that of gasoline motorcycles per kilometer. A “boda-boda” rider can recoup the cost of purchasing an electric motorcycle in about a year.
Data indicates that by 2027, the electric motorcycle market in Africa is expected to grow to $5.07 billion, becoming a leading industry in the region’s transition to sustainable transportation. The increasing market prospects are prompting many African enterprises to actively collaborate with Chinese companies to produce and sell electric motorcycles.
From an environmental perspective, electric motorcycles align with the trend in many African countries that encourage electrification of transportation. Nations such as Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Benin, and Rwanda are rolling out policies to promote electric mobility, creating a friendly environment for the adoption of electric motorcycles. Joyce Msuya, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, stated, “The growing popularity of electric motorcycles in African countries will help reduce air pollution, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and create more job opportunities.”
From the motorcycle manufacturing supply chain to battery and electrification technologies, the affordable products and solid technical experience of Chinese enterprises align with the actual needs of local businesses and the green transition trends in Africa, propelling the accelerated arrival of the “electric era” for motorcycles in the region.