Leading ride-hailing company, <a href="http://bolt.eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bolt</a> has introduced electric motorcycles as part of its offerings in Kenya. The introduction is in partnership with several companies like Roam Electric and Ampersand, both electric vehicle producers, and M-KOPA, a financing company. 
The partnership will signal the addition of electric motorcycles to the Bolt platform. This means riders could request for electric ‘boda-boda’ motorcycle rides on the Bolt platform. The company says the introduction is part of its long-term sustainability strategy as the motorcycles make less noise and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.&nbsp; 
To this end, the company says it plans to have onboarded 1,000 electric bikes on its platform by the end of the year and over 5000 in the next 2 years. This is a bold and ambitious goal for the company but the partnership it has forged can help it achieve this.&nbsp; 
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Speaking about the introduction, Bolt Regional Director for RideHailing Operations in Africa and International Markets, Caroline Wanjihia, said the company is excited about the strategic partnerships it has made to successfully introduce the option.&nbsp; 
“We are excited to introduce our electric bike fleet, in partnership with M-KOPA, as part of our ongoing efforts to support and empower our drivers. This marks a significant milestone in Bolt’s mission to provide sustainable and financially viable transportation solutions in Kenya,” Wanjihia said. 
<h4 id="bolts-partnership-with-roam-ampersand-and-m-kopa" class="wp-block-heading">Bolt’s partnership with Roam, Ampersand and M-Kopa</h4> 
According to data from Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), there were 2,079 electric vehicles (including two-wheelers) in the country as of June 2023. This number is expected to go up with the fluctuating fuel prices and some buyers looking for eco-friendly transportation options. With the growing demand for eco-friendly transportation, Bolt says it is positioning itself as the platform of choice for such customers. 
And the company has selected quite a number of strategic partners to power this positioning. Ampersand and Roam Electric are the manufacturers of electric motorcycles. Roam Electric has been manufacturing electric vehicles and charging infrastructures since 2017.&nbsp; 
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="490" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike.jpg" alt="Bolt introduces electric motorcycles in Kenya in partnership with M-KOPA and Roam and Ampersand" class="wp-image-110389" srcset="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike.jpg 800w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike-300x184.jpg 300w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike-768x470.jpg 768w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike-640x392.jpg 640w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike-380x233.jpg 380w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike-550x337.jpg 550w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike-760x466.jpg 760w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ampersand-bike-600x368.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px">
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 An Ampersand electric bike
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Ampersand on the other hand is based in Rwanda and has been manufacturing commercial-use electric motorcycles since 2016. The company has partnered with Total to station 15 charging/battery swapping stations in their petrol stations. These charging/swapping stations are spread across Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado and Machakos. The company says it plans to have 25 stations by the end of the year. The batteries can also be charged at home. 
M-Kopa is Kenya’s largest financier of electric motorbikes. The company is already responsible for financing about two-thirds of the electric bikes in Kenya. Through this collaboration, therefore, Bolt intends to leverage M-Kopa’s fintech platform to make electric motorbike ownership affordable to prospective drivers.&nbsp; 
Thus, by subsidising the cost of the motorcycles, Bolt says it will enable drivers to choose an electric motorbike at a price equal to or below that of a comparable petrol alternative. The biggest issue with electric motorcycles is the buying price. Roam Electric and Ampersand bikes cost between Ksh 240,000&nbsp; and 250,000.&nbsp; 
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="845" height="509" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/image-48.png" alt="M-KOPA records $600M in Credit for Underbanked users in Africa- 2021 Report" class="wp-image-156340">
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 M-KOPA records $600M in Credit for Underbanked users in Africa- 2021 Report
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Riders on the Bolt platform, however, will be able to access an electric bike for as low as between Ksh 10,000 and 15,000, through vehicle financing provided by M-KOPA. 
Bolt, Ampersand, M-Kopa and Roam Electric say electric bikes can help lower operational costs by up to 40%. This is an effective way to maximise revenue for boda boda riders who are in business. According to Josh Whale, Founder and CEO of Ampersand, the average boda boda rider spends about Ksh 1,000 on fuel and Ksh 150 on maintenance every day. Reducing the fuel expense by up to 40% will mean the rider can take home more money every single day.&nbsp; 
See also: <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/04/02/edo-state-api-integration-for-bolt-uber/#google_vignette">Edo State to introduce API integration for Bolt, Uber and other e-hailing operators</a>

Bolt introduces electric motorcycles in Kenya in partnership with M-KOPA, Roam and Ampersand

Technext.ng

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