Tech in Africa
As Africa’s first electric motorcycle taxi, Kenyan engineers Kimosop Chepkoit and Stephen Juma, promote their innovation as a product built for the African continent. The name Ecobodaa partly arises from the term ‘BodaBoda’ that refers to motorcycle taxis. There are over 3 million motorcycles across East Africa, of which 200,000 are in Nairobi, establishing them as the most extensive last-mile means of transportation.
Ecobodaa was founded in January 2020 and operates on an affordable lease-to-own credit model. This approach ensures riders save more money and get to own the rides eventually. The business model ensures all riders get 100% financing, a significant improvement from the current market where 70% of riders do not own their own bikes. Riders make either daily or weekly payments through M-Pesa for an 18-month duration after which they qualify for ownership.
Ecobodaa’s new prototype saves 60% of fuel and over 80% on repairs and maintenance over a 3-month period.
The first roll-out of the electric taxis will target the informal settlement of Kibera during the October launch. Battery swaps stations will be rolled out across the area. The startup has vetted and trained women bodaboda riders who will the first recipients of the initial batch of Ecobodaas.
“We are proud to say that we have a product that we believe will start an e-mobility revolution in the most common mode of last-mile transport in East Africa,” Kimosop Chepkoit, Ecobodaa Founder and CEO.
Contact Ecobodaa at [email protected] and find out more at www.ecobodaa.bike, and @ecobodaa on Twitter.
