Electric mobility firm, Kibo Africa, has unveiled plans to deploy 10,000 electric motorcycles in Kenya over the next 12 months. The initiative is part of a partnership with energy company Powerhive to expand its battery-swapping infrastructure for riders.

The plan was unveiled on Thursday during the launch of the Kibo Spark electric motorcycle in Nairobi, where the two firms also formalised a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on electric mobility solutions.

Kibo Africa Director Felix Mulwa said the company intends to scale up adoption of electric motorcycles by combining locally assembled bikes with a network of battery-swapping stations.

“We plan to launch around 10,000 bikes in the next 12 months in the market,” Mulwa said.

The company said the motorcycles have undergone testing over the past three years and will initially be rolled out in Nairobi before expanding to other parts of the country.

According to Mulwa, the initiative is targeting the boda boda sector, which has increasingly become a focus for electric mobility companies seeking to reduce operating costs associated with conventional fuel-powered motorcycles.

He said riders using the Kibo Spark would have access to battery-swapping services throughout Nairobi that will allow them to exchange depleted batteries for charged ones rather than waiting for batteries to recharge.

Mulwa explained that the model will help riders reduce daily operating expenses at a time when fuel prices remain a major concern for many motorcycle operators.

“With the current increase in fuel prices, a rider can save up to Ksh500 to Ksh600 per day compared to fuel motorcycles,” he said.

Beyond the first-year target, the company said it aims to deploy approximately 30,000 electric motorcycles within the next three years.

Powerhive Chief Executive Officer Christopher Hornor said the partnership brings together the firm’s experience in energy infrastructure and Kibo Africa’s presence in the motorcycle market.

Hornor noted that Powerhive has operated energy projects in Kenya for more than a decade and currently serves thousands of customers through mini-grid systems.

He said the company has spent the past four years working with Kibo Africa on the engineering and development of the electric motorcycle ecosystem that was unveiled on Thursday.

“We’re committed to building the energy infrastructure layer all over Africa, starting in Kenya,” Hornor said.

The rollout comes as Kenya continues to witness growing interest in electric mobility, with several firms investing in electric motorcycles, battery-swapping stations and charging infrastructure amid efforts to reduce emissions from the transport sector.

Industry players have increasingly targeted the country’s large boda boda market, arguing that lower energy costs and reduced maintenance requirements will make electric motorcycles a viable alternative to conventional bikes.

Kibo Africa and Powerhive said their partnership would focus on expanding access to battery-swapping services as they seek to support the planned deployment of thousands of motorcycles across the country.

• A Tell Media report / By Elizabeth Were