Consumer View: Profits push e-motorcycle adoption

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Electric motorcycles are improving daily earnings for riders in Kenya, with increased profits emerging as the strongest motivation to switch from petrol bikes. In this week’s spotlight, we feature Richard Joel, a bodaboda rider based in Nairobi, who now takes home twice as much money after moving from a petrol-powered Boxer to an Ampersand GEN 3 electric bike.

• Mr Richard says lower maintenance and charging costs have significantly boosted his daily income. With each full charge costing just KES 265 ($2), his daily expenses have dropped, allowing him to take home KES 1,000 ($7.8); double what he used to earn. 

• Range anxiety however remains a concern for riders travelling beyond cities. Mr Richard urges wider charging network coverage to support longer trips.

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For Richard Joel, a bodaboda rider based at Kariobangi Roundabout in Nairobi, switching to an electric motorbike has been a game-changer. He now rides the Ampersand GEN 3, which he bought through asset financing with Mogo. “I paid a deposit of 15,000 shillings ($116) and now I pay 450 ($3.5) shillings daily for 18 months,” he said. “This is manageable for me.”

Before this, Richard rode a Boxer. It served him well, but it came with constant costs such as fuel, oil, brake pads, and regular maintenance. “Now I don’t need to buy oil or brake pads every few weeks. My maintenance cost has gone down drastically,” he explained. “I go home with KES 1,000 ($7.8) these days which is double what I used to save.”

Charging isn’t expensive either. A full charge costs him around KES 265 ($2), and he likes that he can charge based on percentage, depending on how much battery is left. While he charges mostly within the city, he’s noticed some limits. “The bike can’t really take me to Murang’a, where my rural home is. That’s a disadvantage,” he shared. “But I’m glad they’ve added a charging station in Thika. That’s progress.”

Richard believes more charging stations are needed upcountry. “If they put them in places like Nakuru and Kericho, we could travel further and grow even more,” he said.

His experience has not gone unnoticed. Two of his close friends have also switched to the same electric model, inspired by the savings and simplicity. “The ride is smooth, the bike is strong, and the cost is low. What more do you need?” he said with a smile.

For Richard, electric mobility is about being smart with money and planning for the future.