Opibus and Uber have announced a strategic partnership to scale the use of electric motorcycles in Africa. The goal of the collaboration with Opibus is to simplify the deployment of electric motorcycles across Africa. This follows an agreement between the two parties where Opibus will supply 3,000 electric motorcycles in 2022 to meet the demand from Uber’s drivers.
Opibus motorcycles feature a robust frame and dual swappable battery packs, the company says.
In Kenya, the motorcycle industry is the single largest employer, estimated to employ over 1.2 million youth, Opibus says. The sector is booming with a total of over 1.6 million motorcycles registered in the country, growing with an average of 16,500 units imported per month into the country. The exclusively fossil-fueled fleet contributes to a total of 0.81 tonnes of CO2 equivalents, corresponding to 32% of the government’s emission reduction target by 2030.
Additionally, transitioning to electric motorcycles makes a significant difference to the driver or operator’s income, Opibus suggests. Reduced maintenance and operating cost when utilizing Opibus motorcycles leads to a cost reduction of more than 60% in comparison to a traditional ICE motorcycle. The transition is furthermore incentivized by high import taxation and fuel prices that have risen by 25% only during 2021. This at the same time as Opibus aims to offer its motorcycle for the same prices as a fossil fuel equivalent.
