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Skoot Technology has officially introduced its Skoot e3W, an electric three-wheeler for commercial drivers in Kenya, featuring SUN Mobility’s swap-and-go battery technology and distributed locally by Car & General.
The vehicle combines a Piaggio-designed chassis with SUN Mobility’s quick battery exchange system, allowing drivers to replace depleted batteries in minutes rather than wait hours to charge.
The rollout in Nairobi comes after two years of pilot testing, during which Skoot, SUN Mobility, and Car & General evaluated how the e3W performs under load, the durability of repeated battery swaps, maintenance demands, and driver feedback to ensure the vehicle meets local road and traffic conditions.
Through a dedicated mobile app, drivers can control their leasing arrangements, find the nearest battery swap station, and even view job opportunities from a single platform on their phones — a feature the partners say is designed to reduce operational complexity and boost earnings.
Car & General’s General Manager, George Rubiri, highlighted the potential impact of the partnership, noting that bringing reliable electric tuk-tuks to market with supportive after-sales service could help drivers earn more consistently.
Available on flexible lease terms, daily, weekly, or monthly, the Skoot e3W starts at approximately USD 9.31 (KES 1,200) per day, with maintenance included in the price.
Skoot Technology’s CEO and co-founder, Sacha Cook, said the e3W reflects the company’s broader mission to promote cleaner mobility while helping users work and earn more efficiently.
According to Cook, future products will include connected two-wheelers and other smart mobility options that integrate with the same digital platform.
SUN Mobility’s Ajay Goel, Co-founder and CEO-International, explained that the company’s battery swapping system, already tested and scaled in markets like India, is designed to make electric transport more accessible by cutting upfront costs and reducing downtime for hard-working drivers.
The Kenya launch is part of SUN Mobility’s broader plan to expand battery swapping networks on the African continent.
Data from the Nairobi pilot suggests that a typical driver covering around 150 km per day would spend about USD 5.04 (KES 650) on energy through the battery swap system, compared with roughly USD 6.59 (KES 850) on diesel — a saving that could significantly improve daily margins for operators.
Industry observers note that Kenya’s tuk-tuk sector is a key part of urban transport, and the introduction of affordable electric alternatives like the Skoot e3W may help reduce both operating costs for drivers and carbon emissions in fast-growing cities.
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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the leading infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, has announced the successful close of its largest ever debt facility, a $1.16 billion syndicated loan, attracting new lenders from the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
Impact investment firm Acumen has confirmed that its flagship Hardest-to-Reach Initiative (H2R) has successfully raised $250 million in blended finance to expand access to clean and affordable energy across underserved regions in sub-Saharan Africa.
