Top 10 battery swap station companies in Africa

By far the largest users of electric motorcycles in Africa are motorcycle taxi operators. These are common in many cities and are seen as the fastest way to get around town. In order for these riders to effectively switch to electric motorcycles, they need a way to operate them all day long.

The battery swapping stations business model provides such a solution with no harmful emissions and is cheap. Here are the top 10 battery swap station companies in Africa: Spiro, ARC Ride, Ampersand, Zembo, Roam, Mobile power, Kofa, Dodai, Ecobodaa and Stima boda.

1. Best list of top 10 battery swap station companies in Africa

① Spiro

Currently, some other African countries are also promoting electric motorcycles. As one of the top 10 battery swap station companies in Africa, startup Spiro operates in African countries such as Benin, Togo, Rwanda and Uganda, has successfully launched nearly 10,000 electric motorcycles.

And it has established about 350 battery swapping and charging stations across Africa, with plans to build 3,000 battery charging and swapping stations across Kenya in the future.

② ARC Ride

To encourage the development of the electric motorcycle industry, Kenya has launched a number of promotion initiatives. Over the past few years, several start-ups in Kenya have targeted the electric motorcycle industry.

Local Kenya start-up ARC Ride has also started assembling electric motorcycles and is moving forward with the construction of 300 battery swapping stations. Electric motorcycles will be the leading product for the sustainable transport transition in the African region.

③ Ampersand

With nearly 400 motorcycles on the road, Ampersand was the first to switch to electric motorcycles, which they thought would save money on fuel and maintenance.

Ampersand aims to provide fit-for-purpose motorcycles, reliable 12v 100ah lithium ion batteries that cost less than fuel, and advanced swapping technology. This means that Kenya's motorcycle industry will enjoy affordable and clean energy, while reducing carbon emissions by more than 80% per driver using Ampersand.

Riders will be able to perform battery swaps at service stations. The battery replacement is completed in a matter of minutes, and the replacement station will enable the driver to replace the depleted battery with a rechargeable battery at a different location. Ampersand is building a clean energy powered Kenya that is accessible, safe and affordable for all.

④ Zembo

Zembo's expansion strategy includes leveraging risk-sharing mechanisms such as the franchise model to expand its network and reducing staffing costs by deploying automated exchange cabinets. The company also installs solar solutions for off-grid areas and hybrid for grid-connected areas with weak or unreliable grids.

This will allow the battery to be charged even in areas that are not on the grid and during grid outages. Zembo plans to expand its fleet to more than 2,000 motorcycles and 60 battery swap stations by 2025. Zembo operates 27 electric motorcycle battery swapping stations and is considered one of the largest networks in the region.

The Company sells motorcycles to taxi operators on a pay-as-you-go basis and offers battery-as-a-service through its battery swapping network. Personnel and rental costs account for 73% of the exchange's monthly operating costs, and these costs are fixed, delaying profitability and slowing expansion.

⑤ Roam

Roam manufactures powerful electric motorcycles in Kenya. The company is proving that with the support of local manufacturing and assembly, the final price of electric motorcycles can be reduced to compete with internal combustion engine vehicles, while also tailoring the product to local conditions.

Roam currently has the capability to fully design and build 35% of its vehicles in-house, with a goal of 70% in the next three to five years. In line with business expansion, Roam has also deployed and operated the Roam Hub, which integrates charging, battery leasing and after-sales technical services, and Roam has become a leader in the field of electric vehicles in Kenya.

⑥ Mobile power

Mobile Power is now replicating its leasing model in both the mobile and generator replacement sectors by leveraging the same technology components (batteries, BMS for lithium ion battery, and battery charging centers).

The company has now reached a stage where it can mass-produce robust batteries suitable for African conditions for internal use and meet the needs of its EV peers.

Mobile Power's pay-per-use battery replacement model enables customers to access the service according to their needs. Since 2017, Mobile Power's leasing business has grown to 500,000 leases per month and added 2,000 new customers per week at its peak.

⑦ Kofa

Kofa realized the advantages and resources of the local area, and began to cooperate with Chinese companies to produce and sell electric motorcycles. Co-developed an electric motorcycle with the Jidi model that can be swapped at any Kofa Swap & Go battery swapping station.

Jidi has a range of 100 kilometers and plans to deploy more than 5,000 battery swapping stations and 200,000 electric motorcycles across the continent by 2030. It is not difficult to see that the Kofa electric motorcycle will lead the transition to green energy transportation in Africa.

⑧ Dodai

Dodai is an innovative electric vehicle manufacturer committed to creating a sustainable future for Ethiopia and its youth. Expanding rapidly in recent months with the aim of making electric vehicles accessible to everyone in Africa through innovative products and services.

Dodai offers unique electric motorcycles and hopes to expand to key regional cities in Ethiopia by the end of 2024 and complete the battery swapping cabinet service as it develops.

⑨ Ecobodaa

Ecobodaa said that it adheres to the path of green development in both economy and business to drive the local economy.

The 12 volt 200ah lithium battery is the most expensive part of an electric motorcycle, and the fuel savings are better suited to the driving concept. The battery swapping cabinet mode can complete this part well, and it is a green and clean way to supplement energy.

⑩ Stima boda

Stima boda aims to solve the difficult situation of mass adoption of e-mobility, hoping to create a more equitable society and a sustainable planet through e-mobility.

Because transportation has a huge impact on climate change. Motorcycles are not only private transport, but also an important part of local public transport. Especially with the development of motorcycle online booking services, Stima boda has seized the huge development opportunity and is gradually developing best battery swap station system.

2. Conclusion

The battery is the most expensive component of an electric motorcycle, so reducing this expense can greatly reduce the financial burden on the rider. Combined with the fact that local electric motorcycles are mainly used for commercial purposes, the cost of time is particularly important.

Based on this, the top 10 battery swap station companies in Africa chose to build a battery swap station - riders can go to the battery swap station to replace the insufficient battery with a fully charged battery, which only takes 2-3 minutes without recharging.

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