Localised success stories and early market data, however, suggest a positive impact on mobility, emissions, and economic activity. Here, we look at the progress of EV fleets to date, and wider impacts on regional development.
In Kenya, electric motorcycles now make up around 7% of new two-wheeler registrations in 2024, up from just 0.5% in 2021. Companies including Ampersand, Roam, and Spiro have been leading this shift, with over 15 million battery swaps recorded across their combined fleets. These electric motorcycles reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 2 tonnes annually per bike and can deliver 35–45% savings in operating costs – a huge economic boon to drivers. The success experienced by these companies, especially in urban Kenya and Rwanda, is laying the blueprint for further growth, particularly across the rest of the so-called “boda belt” (a term coined by Tom Courtright, mobility researcher and consultant), stretching from Dar es Salaam in East Africa to Dakar, Senegal, in West Africa.
Meanwhile, BasiGo, also based in Nairobi and Kigali, currently operates around 80 electric BYD buses across the two cities. These buses have already served over 7.8 million passengers while reducing approximately 2,100 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Their “Pay-As-You-Drive” model makes electric buses cost-competitive with their diesel counterparts, attracting wide interest from transport cooperatives and public sector partners in the region. Electric bus expansion is also underway in other African cities: Senegal introduced 150 e-buses in Dakar as part of its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, while Ethiopia has rolled out around 229 e-buses in Addis Ababa to date.
The transition to EV fleets across Africa is also beginning to yield macroeconomic benefits, particularly by reducing fuel imports and lowering transport-related emissions. Nigeria’s government recently approved $100 million in contracts to procure electric buses, tricycles, and charging infrastructure in the North-East region, aiming to boost local economies while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. These changes help improve energy security and reduce the economic volatility tied to global oil prices. Moreover, electric fleets are stimulating new markets for vehicle assembly, maintenance, and battery recycling, laying the groundwork for diversified industrial growth.
Deployment of electric fleets is also helping to integrate renewable energy and grid development. In Morocco, the government has committed $1.1 billion to overhauling public transport, including the deployment of 3,500 buses across 32 cities by 2029. A core objective is to integrate these fleets with renewable power sources, reducing carbon emissions and improving urban air quality. This initiative shows how aligning energy and transport strategies can drive national decarbonisation while boosting economic resilience.
Early e-mobility data, trends, and policy commitments show that real progress is underway across Africa. New EV fleets are already reducing emissions, boosting driver incomes, and spurring green economic activity. These on-the-ground outcomes are building the case for funders and operators to scale deployments further. With continued investment in charging infrastructure, supportive policies, and local innovation, Africa’s clean mobility revolution can continue to grow. It is also important to acknowledge that available data remains fragmented in many parts of the continent. As the sector matures, better aggregate industry data and quantifiable impact indicators will be crucial for tracking and accelerating Africa’s e-mobility future.
Reference List
https://www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/whisper-it-quietly-but-africa-is-starting-to-mass-manufacture-electric-vehicles/
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/23/7-of-all-new-motorcycle-registrations-in-kenya-in-2024-were-electric/
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/01/ampersand-leads-the-charge-as-electric-motorcycle-market-share-surges-in-kigali-rwanda/
https://www.ifc.org/en/stories/2024/kigali-shift-electric-motorcycles-brings-climate-benefit
https://www.basi-go.com/
https://nairametrics.com/2025/03/10/fg-approves-n151-9-billion-for-electric-buses-tricycles-and-charging-infrastructure-in-north-east/
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