A battery swap scheme is turning Africa’s roads electric

Spiro, a startup aiming to replace fuel-powered motorbikes and scooters with electric alternatives, is expanding into Kenya. Announced ahead of the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, the company will launch its largest deployment to date: 1.2 million electric vehicles in Kenya. This marks a significant increase from its current fleet of 10,000 bikes across Benin, Togo, and Rwanda. Spiro also plans to introduce 140,000 bikes in Uganda this autumn.

CEO Jules Samain told CNN that Spiro’s mission is to “reduce pollution sources, but to eliminate them entirely.” The company will recycle and repurpose old bikes, holding public “crushing events” in Benin and Togo where decommissioned vehicles are flattened and recycled.

In Kenya, drivers can trade their old bikes for electric ones with a subsidy of 50,000 Kenyan shillings (about $344), covering a third of the cost of a new electric bike. They will then pay a daily subscription of approximately 255 Kenyan shillings (around $2) for access to battery-swapping stations where depleted batteries are exchanged for fully charged ones. This system not only decreases the number of petrol and diesel vehicles on the road but also lowers costs for drivers in terms of fuel and maintenance. Some motorbike taxi drivers have reported increased daily profits, rising from $6 to $11, since adopting the scheme.

A 2022 FIA Foundation report highlighted that while electric motorcycles have a higher purchase price compared to petrol-powered ones, they are cheaper to operate. In many African countries, the cost of petrol is significantly higher than electricity for the same distance. Battery-swapping is crucial for making electric bikes more affordable, as it reduces the initial purchase price by selling the bike separately from the battery.

Samain emphasizes the importance of reliable and accessible charging infrastructure for successful battery-swapping. Spiro plans to build 3,000 swapping stations across Kenya, strategically placed to ensure broad coverage in both urban and rural areas. The company is also setting up a manufacturing base in Kenya to create local jobs.

Kenya’s President William Ruto praised the initiative, noting it will create jobs and transfer technology and skills sustainably. According to the FIA Foundation, sub-Saharan Africa had 27 million registered motorbikes in 2022, up from 5 million in 2010, with about 80% used in motorcycle taxis. McKinsey estimates that electric and petrol motorbikes will make up over 45% of the vehicle fleet in sub-Saharan Africa by 2040.

To prevent Africa from becoming a “dumping ground” for outdated, polluting vehicles, McKinsey stresses the need for affordable and reliable electrification. Spiro, formerly known as M-Auto, is leading this transition. It follows the lead of Swedish-Kenyan startup Roam, which opened East Africa’s largest electric motorcycle assembly plant, and Ampersand, which operates a fleet of 1,000 bikes and a battery-swapping network. Recently, Uber also launched an electric motorbike service in Kenya, with plans to deploy 3,000 bikes within six months.

Spiro’s expansion in Kenya represents a major milestone, with Samain aiming for operations in at least 10 African countries by 2030.