Consumer View: Rising charging prices derail electric motorcycles

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Electric motorcycles are gaining popularity as Kenya and the rest of Africa embrace clean transportation that is cost-effective. In this weekly section, we speak with electric vehicle consumers across the continent to understand their EV user experience. This week, we spotlight Eric Karisa, a taxi motorcycle rider with Bolt operating in Nairobi, Kenya. 

• Mr Karisa has been using an electric bike for 11 months after shifting from a petrol motorcycle. In an interview, he said he saves around $7 daily since switching to an electric motorcycle.

• The biggest problem for him is however the increasing cost of charging. Further, there is a lack of enough battery swapping stations in Nairobi. It means that he cannot offer rides to areas beyond a certain range of kilometres.

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Mr Karisa said when electric motorbikes were introduced, they were very profitable in taxi transportation. The rider said at the time he bought the electric motorcycle, a swapping battery was around $0.84, and it is now around $2.  

“It reduced the operating cost, yet distance remains the same,” Mr Karisa said. 

According to Karisa, the difference was the cost. “When I bought the electric motorcycle the price of petrol was high but these electric ones cover a long distance at small cost for charging,” explains the ride-hailing operator, adding it allowed him to save some money.

Electric motorcycles save money, but this also depends on the number of requests he receives, the rider says and Mr Karisa says on average, he saves around $7 in comparison to the time he operated a petrol motorcycle. Sometimes, he says he would make around $3. However, the rider would also make a higher amount. “At the beginning I would save around $11 per day, that means after covering all costs and meals,” he said. “I would go home with a full battery.” 

The motorcycle rider says before shifting to electric motorcycles, he would make around $4 as the rest of money is spent on fuel and food. “For instance, if I have made around $15 yet I have spent around $7 on fuel, the balance would also cover food and other expenses,” explains Mr Karisa. “So, I would make around ($4).”

Mr Karisa acquired the electric bike through a partnership between M-Kopa and the ride-hailing firm Bolt. At the time, he deposited around $78. Those who would brand their bike with Bolt were paid around $3 per day. It means they would reduce the cost of the motorcycles because they were advertising for them, he says. 

Despite the benefits of electric motorcycles, there are also challenges. The biggest one is the cost of charging, according to Karisa. The charging cost has been increasing without any reason, according to the taxi-motorcycle operator. Battery charging was $0.84 at the beginning, then it was increased two times to reach around $2. 

“They did not give us any reason for the cost increase. There is nothing we can do about it because it is the company’s decision,” says Karisa. “We complained asking why they are increasing the charging cost yet the prices of fuel were going down and the cost of electricity had not increased.” 

Limited swapping stations  

In addition to the cost of charging, Mr Karisa says limited swapping stations hinders the transportation businesses for electric vehicles riders. “Petrol stations are all over. They can be easily accessed.”

“For instance, if the battery runs low and I am going to places such as Juja or Limuru, I will not go there because the battery power will end and I will not be able to return,” says the Nairobi-based rider who uses Ampersand swapping stations.

Another challenge he cites is the heavy battery that prevents the riders from speeding on rough roads. According to Karisa, the battery weighs about 50 kg. Karisa further noted there are more advantages of electric motorcycles such as low cost of maintenance. It is not like the petrol motorcycle that requires inspecting the engine or changing oil. “It operates swiftly without a big maintenance issue, unless a motor malfunctions.”