A project aimed at accelerating the transition to electric motorcycles in East Africa through battery swapping solutions, intelligent energy management and digital tools tailored to motorcycle taxi operations.

Project led by

StimaBoda, a technology company specialising in energy and electric mobility solutions, focused on electric motorcycles and battery-swapping infrastructure in East Africa.

Description of the project leader

StimaBoda

StimaBoda is an innovative company operating at the intersection of electric mobility, energy services and digital platforms. It develops solutions specifically designed for motorcycle taxi riders (“boda bodas”), combining electric motorcycles, battery-swapping systems, smart charging infrastructure and digital tools.

The company positions itself as a mobility-as-a-service provider, integrating hardware, software and energy infrastructure to support the transition from internal combustion motorcycles to clean, affordable and reliable electric mobility in urban and peri-urban areas.

Project context

Motorcycle taxis (“boda bodas”) play a critical role in urban mobility and employment across East Africa. However, their reliance on petrol-powered motorcycles results in high operating costs, exposure to fuel price volatility, and significant air pollution and CO₂ emissions.

While electric motorcycles offer a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative, adoption is often constrained by charging times, upfront costs and limited charging infrastructure.

StimaBoda addresses these barriers by deploying an integrated ecosystem that combines electric motorcycles, battery-swapping stations and digital platforms, enabling fast access to energy and reducing the total cost of ownership for riders.

Project objectives

• Accelerate the adoption of electric motorcycles among motorcycle taxi riders.
• Reduce fuel and operating costs for riders and fleet operators.
• Provide fast and reliable access to energy through battery-swapping infrastructure.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution in urban areas.
• Support inclusive and sustainable urban mobility systems.

Project activities

• Deployment of electric motorcycles designed for intensive motorcycle taxi use.
• Installation of battery-swapping stations, allowing rapid battery replacement without long vehicle downtime.
• Implementation of digital platforms to manage batteries, usage data, payments and rider interactions.
• Integration of smart energy management systems to optimise charging and energy distribution.
• Operational support for riders, including onboarding, training and technical assistance.

Project impacts

• Significant reduction in operating costs for riders, improving income stability and livelihoods.
• Improved air quality and reduced CO₂ emissions, delivering environmental and public health benefits.
• Increased adoption of electric mobility, enabled by reliable and accessible energy infrastructure.
• Creation of green jobs, particularly in vehicle maintenance, battery management and station operations.
• Demonstration of a scalable electric two-wheel mobility model, replicable across African cities.