Rwandan e-mobility startup Ampersand has joined forces with BYD, the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, to revolutionize Africa’s motorcycle taxi industry.
This collaboration aims to replace petrol-powered bikes with cleaner, more sustainable electric alternatives.
Africa’s motorcycle taxis are a vital transportation network, but their reliance on fossil fuels contributes significantly to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Ampersand and BYD’s partnership addresses this challenge by introducing affordable, high-performance electric motorcycles.
Ampersand brings its deep understanding of the African market and its innovative battery-swapping technology to the table.
This network allows riders to quickly exchange depleted batteries for charged ones, ensuring uninterrupted service.
BYD contributes its expertise in electric vehicle manufacturing and battery technology.
Their advanced battery cells and large-scale production capabilities will be crucial in accelerating the production of electric motorcycles designed specifically for African conditions.
The shift to electric motorcycles is expected to create new jobs in manufacturing, maintenance, and battery-swapping infrastructure, boosting local economies.
Additionally, electric motorcycles offer significantly lower operating and maintenance costs compared to petrol-powered bikes. This can translate to higher income potential for motorcycle taxi drivers, improving livelihoods and contributing to poverty reduction.
Ecobank, a leading pan-African banking group, has unveiled the twelve finalists vying for the US$50,000 grand prize in its seventh annual Fintech Challenge.
The World Bank has pledged a $100 million investment to accelerate Zambia’s digital transformation through the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP).
A landmark digital transformation initiative for Kenya has been announced, with Microsoft and UAE-based artificial intelligence (AI) leader G42 pledging an initial investment of $1 billion.
© 2021 Empower Africa. All rights reserved.