{"id":22238,"date":"2025-05-23T17:03:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T13:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gbc1.net\/?p=22238"},"modified":"2025-05-24T21:02:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T17:02:42","slug":"bii-invests-5m-in-boda-boda-to-electrify-motorcyle-business-in-kenya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gbc1.net\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/bii-invests-5m-in-boda-boda-to-electrify-motorcyle-business-in-kenya\/","title":{"rendered":"BII Invests $5M in ‘Boda Boda’ to Electrify Motorcyle Business in Kenya"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 22 May 2025, the British International Investment (BII<\/a>) — UK’s Development Finance Institution (#DFI<\/a>) — announced an investment of USD 5 million into ARC Ride<\/a> in Kenya. The financing will go toward the procurement of 5,000 electric motorbikes and the expansion of the battery recharge and swap stations of ARC Ride as part of the #GreenMobility<\/a> drive of #BII<\/a>. Motorcycle taxis are extremely popular in Kenya and is known locally as ‘Boda Boda.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In partnership with ARC Ride, GA Insurance<\/a> of Kenya has recently launched insurance covers tailored for electric motorbike riders. Additionally, ARC Ride proposes an innovative business model which provides ‘Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS)’, marketed as SwapCare, with a network of stations which enables quick battery swaps in lieu<\/em> of a time-consuming recharge.<\/p>\n\n\n

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ARC Ride Markets Battery-as-a-Service as SwapCare in Kenya<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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“In Kenya, Boda Boda is more than a mere motorcycle: it is an essential component of the transport system, which allows millions of people to travel for work and leisure. I believe that the electrification of the motorbikes will contribute to a greener and more sustainable future for Kenya.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It is estimated that the 5,000 electric motorcycles will contribute to a reduction of 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (#tCO2<\/a>) annually. In Kenya, it is estimated that the Transport Sector accounts for 13% of the total Greenhouse Gas (#GHG<\/a>) emissions, and the initiative is a step in the right direction for the #decarbonization<\/a> of the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electric motorbikes is still a nascent business in Africa. According to the ‘Global #EV<\/a> Outlook 2025’ report, only 9,000 electric motorcycles were sold on the continent in 2024, which represents 0.5% of the total. However, the trend and future for #eMobility<\/a> are quite clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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