The Kigali-based electric transport energy company Ampersand has partnered with publicly-listed Chinese multinational manufacturing company BYD to collaborate on the decarbonisation of Africa’s commercial motorbike transport system. Formed in 2016, Ampersand assembles and finances electric motorcycles that cost less to buy and operate, and perform better than the five million petrol motorcycle taxis in use across East Africa. The partnership with BYD will see Ampersand purchase BYD’s high-tech battery cells to build around 40,000 electric motorcycles by the end of 2026, with the long-term goal of electrifying a large portion of Africa’s 30 million commercial motorbikes. This will enable Ampersand to rapidly scale its electric fleet and its charging infrastructure, which is already the largest in Rwanda and Kenya. “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.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 25, 2024 12:37 UTC