Uber has announced the introduction of electric motorcycle taxis in Nairobi as they launch the product in the African continent.

The US cab company's action comes as the Kenyan government is ready to introduce electric vehicles nationwide as part of a green transportation initiative.

PHOTO | COURTESY Electric Motorcycles

With roughly 3,000 motorcycles initially anticipated, Uber announced the introduction of the Electric Boda in Kenya on Thursday. The company claimed it would lower drivers' operating expenses by 30 to 35 percent and increase fares by about 15 to 20 percent.

The vehicles are two-wheelers with space for a driver and a passenger and are propelled by an electric motor that is charged by a battery rather than a petrol engine.

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"This launch also supports our global efforts to become a zero-emissions platform by 2040," said Frans Hiemstra, Uber's regional general manager for the Middle East and Africa.

PHOTO | COURTESY Electric Motorcycles

The World Bank estimates that approximately 1.5 million young people work in Kenya's boda boda (motorcycle taxi) industry, which also generates around 202 billion Kenyan shillings ($1.4 billion) in economic output annually.

By 2030, the Kenyan government wants 5% of all registered vehicles in the East African nation to be electric.

According to government statistics, only a small number of registered electric cars (EVs) make up less than 1% of the total 4.4 million registered vehicles.

Spiro announced that it has partnered with the Kenyan government to distribute more than a million electric automobiles nationwide.

The launch will take place later on Friday in Mombasa, a port city on the Indian Ocean, according to Trade Minister Moses Kuria.

PHOTO | COURTESY Electric Motorcycles


According to a statement from Spiro, the company has already distributed close to 10,000 electric bikes to nations like Benin, Togo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The business also announced intentions to develop a manufacturing centre in Kenya and 3,000 battery charging and swapping stations in addition to the 350 presently present around Africa.No indication of the timeframe was provided.The first-ever Africa Climate Summit will be held in Nairobi next week.