NAIROBI, Kenya- In a development aimed at transforming Africa’s transport landscape, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD and Kigali-based EV energy tech company Ampersand have signed a landmark agreement to accelerate the electrification of Africa’s commercial motorbike sector.
This collaboration marks a significant step towards decarbonizing the continent’s transportation system, promising a sustainable and economically beneficial solution.
Powering Africa’s Motorbike Revolution
On Tuesday, the two companies inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on decarbonizing Africa’s commercial motorbike transport.
As part of the agreement, Ampersand will purchase BYD’s high-tech battery cells to build approximately 40,000 electric motorcycles by the end of 2026.
The long-term goal is to electrify a significant portion of Africa’s 30 million commercial motorbikes.
“BYD’s world-leading battery cells and manufacturing scale, combined with Ampersand’s deep customer insight and technical product knowledge, will help fast-track the electrification of Africa’s commercial motorcycles,” said Josh Whale, CEO of Ampersand.
This partnership will allow Ampersand to rapidly scale its electric fleet and expand its charging infrastructure, which is already the largest in Rwanda and Kenya.
High-Tech Battery Cells for Mass Market Electrification
BYD’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells are known for their long lifespan, excellent safety record, and affordability, making them ideal for mass-market electrification.
These batteries will be pivotal in enabling Ampersand to meet the rising demand for commercial motorcycles across Africa.
“Electrifying the intensively used commercial motorcycles found across Africa is a logical first step to decarbonizing a very large potential market of motorcycles across the Global South,” noted Sihai Zhang of BYD Company.
The move towards electric vehicles (EVs) in Africa, particularly in the motorbike sector, has primarily been driven by private sector initiatives and small startups, especially in the “boda belt” region spanning from Tanzania to Senegal.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Switching to electric two-wheelers not only decarbonizes transport but also significantly cuts down on air pollution and reduces operating costs.
Ampersand’s current fleet of 3,000 zero-emission electric motorcycles is already making a difference.
The company’s scalable model aims to deliver life-changing savings, improve air quality, and enhance public health.