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- New funding to expand swap station network in Kenya
New funding to expand swap station network in Kenya
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 | Kenyan electric motorcycle startup ARC Ride has secured $5 million financing from British International Investment (BII). The funding will be used to accelerate the expansion of ARC Ride’s battery swapping infrastructure which stands at 144 swapping cabinets, mainly in Nairobi. The company says it now wants to deploy an extra 5,000 electric motorcycles to meet demand. |
Development financiers such as BII offer debt at preferential interest rates and terms, especially for projects that have a developmental impact. This is key for African electric mobility companies, who have been struggling to secure equity funding to scale.
Africa still lacks enough charging and swapping stations for EVs. But firms that secure funding can develop such infrastructure relatively fast, and with it potentially market share.
Our take: Concessional financing could unlock the potential of Africa’s electric mobility startups in the current environment of high interest rates globally…Read more (2 min)
 | Italian automaker Fiat has launched its first electric three-wheeler and is targeting African and Middle Eastern markets. The Tris is entirely made in Morocco and available in three versions: Chassis-cabin, flatbed and pickup. Fiat says the pickup version is ideal for delivering fruit, sand or furniture, while the other two configurations make bases for upfitting. |
Three-wheelers cost a fraction of four-wheel vehicles and have a larger carrying capacity than two-wheelers, making them an attractive middle ground option. Used to carry both passengers and cargo, electric models are cheaper to run, helping users increase earnings.
Fiat’s vast manufacturing capacity gives it the ability to produce electric three-wheelers at scale, which could lower prices. Made in Africa, the vehicles are a likely fit for rugged conditions on the continent.
Our take: The entry of a major global carmaker into electric three-wheeler manufacturing will give the vehicle segment more growth impetus… Read more (2 min)
 | Ethiopia’s EV market is growing fast, but many challenges lie on the path of startups seeking to take electric motorcycles mainstream. Dodai is one of the fastest growing electric motorcycle startups in the country but faces major hurdles including regulatory barriers and inadequate consumer financing, says Abiero Origa, the firm’s manufacturing manager. |
Previously, he worked as the sub-assembly production manager at Kenya-based EV startup Roam, but now he is focused on strengthening Dodai’s competitive edge in Ethiopia’s rapidly evolving electric vehicle market.
“Competition is intensifying, with international brands like Tommi E-bike, Yadea, and San Polo already active in the Ethiopian market. However, Dodai distinguishes itself by locally assembling lithium-ion battery scooters from CKD kits, ensuring high quality and alignment with local market needs,” says Abiero.
Click here to read the whole interview… Read more (2 min)
Events
🗓️ Register for Africa E-Mobility Week’s webinar (May 29)
🗓️ Attend Automotive Stakeholders Workshop in South Africa (June 11)
🗓️ Plan early for the Africa EV Mobility Expo happening in Kenya (Dec 4)
Jobs
👩💻 Join Arc Ride as a Senior Data Analyst (Kenya)
💻 Become a Java Software Engineer at Spiro (Uganda)
👩💼 Manage people at Ampersand as the Human Resource Lead (Rwanda)
Various
📉 Watu Africa records an 84% drop in profits in 2024 compared to 2023.
🏅 Dodai named among the 25 startups to watch in Africa by Bloomberg
🚘 BYD introduces the new Sealion 7 in Kenya
Seen on LinkedIn
Olu Faleye, CEO of SAGLEV, says, “The average Nigerian home will easily be powered overnight with 12 KWh battery storage… these EVs have high voltage lithium battery capacity of 30-140 KWh!! This is more than beautiful news.”