Kenya: Bolt, M-KOPA partner to lease electric motorcycles to its riders

A ride hailing app in Kenya, Bolt, in collaboration with M-KOPA, have announced the launch of a program to lease electric motorcycles to riders on its platform.

Through the partnership, new and existing drivers will have the opportunity to lease ROAM and Ampersand electric motorbikes at a discounted price.

The partnership is aimed at enhancing driver earnings through the reduction of operational costs in the market. A secondary motive is the support of eco-friendly urban mobility, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

The 5,000 electric motorcycle rollout aligns with the recent launch of Kenya’s National E-mobility Policy, aimed at promoting local production and assembly of EVs. The electric bikes offer a cost-effective alternative for drivers, enabling them to maximise their earnings while minimising expenses.

M-KOPA is Kenya’s largest financier of electric motorbikes having already financed approximately two-thirds of the electric bikes on Kenya’s roads. Bolt will leverage M-KOPA’s fintech platform to make electric motorbike ownership affordable, by substantially reducing the expenses associated with electric motorbikes for drivers.

_{A cross-section of Bolt, MKOPA, ROAM and Ampersand teams with the riders}

Riders on the Bolt platform will be able to access an electric bike for as low as Ksh. 10,000 to Ksh. 15,000, through vehicle financing, enabled by the partnership between M-KOPA, ROAM and Ampersand.

Caroline Wanjihia, Regional Director, RideHailing Operations, Africa & International Markets, said: “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. By leveraging electric vehicles, we are not only reducing our environmental footprint, but also aim to enhance driver earnings and improve overall economic stability within the communities that we serve. Considering all financial incentives and reduced operating costs, drivers participating in this pilot launch could see significantly increased daily earnings compared to petrol motorcycles. This initiative underscores our commitment to driving positive change and fostering economic empowerment within our driver community.”

David Damberger, Managing Director – M-KOPA Mobility, added: “As the leading financier of electric motorbikes in Kenya, we’re committed to redefining mobility in Kenya through affordable financing solutions for electric motorbikes, particularly for the underbanked. Partnering with Bolt represents a significant leap towards this goal, enabling us to broaden our reach and support more customers in transitioning to sustainable transport solutions. Already, we have made substantial inroads since launching our Mobility division in 2022, in collaboration with ROAM and Ampersand. With over 2 million motorbikes navigating Kenya’s roads, now is the time for us to extend our reach, as we set to positively impact the environment significantly by reducing carbon emissions and saving on fuel costs—an essential keystone of Kenya’s sustainable development.”

In 2021, Bolt introduced a new ride category on its platform dubbed Bolt Green which offers eco-friendly rides. The category has hybrid and electric cars to reduce emissions during trips taken on the Bolt platform.

As part of its launch strategy, Bolt will initially deploy the electric bikes in Nairobi, with plans for expansion in the near future.