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How electric motorcycles are changing cold-chain logistics

From the newsletter 

Roam, a Kenya-based electric motorcycle manufacturer, has partnered with logistics company Keep It Cool to launch Africa’s first fully electric cold-chain delivery network for fresh farm produce. The partnership will begin with five Roam Air electric motorcycles. Keep It Cool currently moves over 250,000 kg of fresh food every week across Kenya’s major cities. 

  • Electric two-wheelers can tap into the $10.88 billion African cold chain market by offering a low-cost, low-emission solution for last-mile delivery. Their scalability and affordability make them ideal for connecting rural producers to urban markets, reducing food waste and boosting farmer incomes.

  • Beyond fresh produce, the cold-chain EV market is expanding into healthcare logistics; United Pharmaceutical Distributors in South Africa uses electric vans for medicine delivery, showing the versatility of clean transport in critical supply chains.

More details

  • Roam’s electric motorcycles reduce running costs by 50–75% compared to petrol bikes, making them a highly economical option for delivery businesses. With a 240 kg load capacity, they are well-suited to cold-chain logistics while significantly lowering operational expenses.

  • Keep It Cool's integration of Roam’s electric motorcycles bridges the last-mile delivery gap through zero-emission transport. By serving over 4,000 small businesses and 40 supermarkets, this model demonstrates that electric mobility can reliably support high-volume, time-sensitive logistics demands.

  • Roam is expanding its charging and service infrastructure beyond Nairobi, making electric mobility more accessible across the regions. A key advantage is the convenience of home charging, enabling users to plug in the motorcycle anywhere and removing dependency on centralised charging stations.

  • Electric motorcycles have untapped potential for delivering temperature-sensitive goods such as flowers, frozen foods, dairy products, and pharmaceuticals. These sectors require dependable, cost-effective last-mile solutions, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where rapid access is essential. With low operating costs and the ability to navigate congested roads, electric motorcycles are ideal for high-frequency, time-critical deliveries.

  • As Africa’s urban population is expected to rise to 60% by 2050, the need for fast and efficient grocery delivery services will grow substantially. The grocery delivery market alone is projected to reach $17.11 billion by 2030. Thanks to their manoeuvrability and lower running costs, electric motorcycles are well-positioned to meet this growing demand, especially for cold-chain deliveries in busy cities.

  • The adoption of electric motorcycles in cold-chain logistics could spur innovation in lightweight, energy-efficient cooler boxes powered by auxiliary batteries or partially from the motorcycle itself. However, such integrations must be carefully engineered to avoid draining the main battery, which would reduce the vehicle’s delivery range. Developing smart energy management systems will be vital to making cold storage on two-wheelers both practical and commercially viable.

Our take

  • E-motorcycles can access narrow roads, informal settlements, and crowded market areas where larger vehicles struggle. This makes them ideal for reaching small retailers and vendors in hard-to-access locations.

  • They are suited for high-frequency, short-distance trips, crucial in cold-chain logistics where goods must stay within specific temperature ranges. This reduces spoilage and ensures timely restocking for perishable items.

  • With growing home charging, battery swapping stations, and even solar-powered units in off-grid areas, e-motorcycles offer unmatched flexibility. Their adoption is outpacing e-bicycles and electric three-wheelers, making them the most scalable solution for cold-chain delivery in both urban and rural settings.