EV Safari

EV Safari EV Safari is at the forefront of Africa's transition to sustainable and electric mobility.

As a leading voice in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, we are committed to driving awareness, education, and adoption of electric vehicles across the continent.

What happens when two Prize finalists join forces? Things get a little bit cool.Earthshot Prize 2022 finalist Roam and...
04/07/2025

What happens when two Prize finalists join forces?

Things get a little bit cool.

Earthshot Prize 2022 finalist Roam and Earthshot Prize 2024 winners (KIC) have partnered to launch Africa’s first fully electric cold‑chain distribution network

—combining solar‑powered refrigeration with clean, electric delivery motorcycles.

Roam is a Kenyan-based electric‑mobility pioneer, while KIC is a Nairobi‑based startup revolutionizing food supply chains in East Africa through its smart cold‑chain platform, .

The The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental award and platform designed to discover, accelerate, and scale groundbreaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet.

In a continent where roughly 163 million people face acute food insecurity (according to ReliefWeb), this bold move promises to bolster Africa’s climate resilience and food security.

The collaboration kicks off with five Roam Air electric motorcycles joining KIC’s smart cold‑chain system.

KIC already transports 250,000 kg of fresh food each week to over 4,000 small businesses and 40 supermarkets across Kenya’s major cities.

Each Roam Air can carry up to 240 kg and reduce operating costs by up to 75 % compared to ICE motorcycles.

Thus, the addition of Roam Air in KIC's fleet, will be a game changer.

Only 5% of farmland in Africa has cold storage access, compared to 37% in Asia.

If this statistic doesn’t blow your mind, I guess the next one will.

Nigeria operates at less than 4% of its required cold chain capacity, costing farmers $4.5B annually in spoilage.

By combining solar‑powered cold rooms near fishing ports, hybrid delivery trucks, and a digital platform that links producers directly to retailers,

—this partnership takes a significant step toward solving Africa’s post‑harvest crisis.

So far, KIC has helped over 5,600 fisherfolk increase incomes by more than 15 %, and has slashed post‑harvest losses by 98 % for over 1.5 million kg of food.

With Roam recognized by the Financial Times as one of Kenya’s fastest‑growing companies, and KIC set to open the country’s largest solar‑powered cold‑chain hub later this year,

—this partnership couldn’t be more timely.

Together, they will close the last‑mile delivery gap, ensuring a fully clean, end‑to‑end food chain: from harvest to sale.

Want to learn more about this groundbreaking partnership? (Link in the comment section)

The Earthshot Prize

Ever wondered what it takes to ignite Africa’s EV revolution?Simple, yet progressive conversations are the sparks that s...
23/06/2025

Ever wondered what it takes to ignite Africa’s EV revolution?

Simple, yet progressive conversations are the sparks that shape our sector’s future.

With this in mind, I usually seek to have rich EV conversations with industry professionals every chance I get.

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with Lukaya, Roam’s Regional Sales Operations Manager, and the insights were electrifying.

He stressed that expanding the charging network is the key to killing range anxiety and boosting adoption.

Roam isn’t waiting around.

They’ve just opened new hubs in Kiambu and Machakos, bringing their sustainable mobility footprint well beyond Nairobi.

And they’re not alone.

Companies like SPIRO and ARC Ride are building out robust charging ecosystems nationwide.

I pushed Habib on a question many shy away from: “Can we standardize our charging infrastructure?”

His answer was a resounding yes.

He boldly stated that standardization of the charging ecosystem would be a great move in overcoming barriers to achieving sustainable transportation in Africa.

Standardization would slash redundant investments in incompatible hardware, cutting costs for governments and operators alike.

Universal protocols like OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) let anyone plug in any charger, avoiding vendor lock-in.

Better yet, clear standards signal market maturity, and that attracts the foreign investment we need.

It also supercharges local industry: when hardware and interfaces are consistent, manufacturing, maintenance, and even battery swapping become easier, spawning homegrown EVSE producers and creating jobs.

If you want even richer insights, join Habib at the LEAP-RE webinar on June 24.

He’ll be sharing the virtual stage with experts from RES4Africa Foundation, the African Union, and more, tackling energy efficiency and sustainability across Africa and Europe.

🕙 10:00–12:00 (CAT/CET)

💻 Virtual

🔗 Register: https://lnkd.in/dtwt-v2Q

See you there!

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Roam’s latest innovation is about to hit the streets near you.Roam, an electric manufacturer based in Kenya, just launch...
10/06/2025

Roam’s latest innovation is about to hit the streets near you.

Roam, an electric manufacturer based in Kenya, just launched its new E-Motorbike: the Roam Air Gen 2.

This isn’t your typical E-motorcycle.

It’s built for the ruggedness of Africa’s roads.

With direct input from Boda Boda riders, this masterpiece boasts over 40 practical upgrades from the Roam Air Gen 1, including:

- A lockable battery compartment to keep batteries safe.

- Improved battery efficiency for a longer range (100–120 km).

- An extended, cushioned seat for rider and passenger comfort.

- Ergonomically designed controls, gear, light, and horn, for maximum ease of use.

- A 1 kg lighter frame for better handling and efficiency.

- A reinforced frame that supports up to 240 kg, 20 kg more than the predecessor.

These enhancements position the Roam Air Gen 2 perfectly for daily transport across Kenya’s diverse terrain.

Roam is solidifying its leadership in Africa’s EV landscape.

What’s next for Roam?

Mr. Habib Lukaya, Roam’s Regional Sales Operations Manager, says the company is now focused on expanding its charging infrastructure to elevate the Boda Boda rider experience even further.

New Green Opportunities at Ampersand EnergyAmpersand Energy is expanding its tech & operations teams to accelerate Afric...
09/06/2025

New Green Opportunities at Ampersand Energy

Ampersand Energy is expanding its tech & operations teams to accelerate Africa’s shift to clean mobility!

Check them out through the links:

Backend Software Engineer – Architect the systems that power Africa’s largest electric vehicle fleet. If performance, reliability, and clean energy innovation excite you, let’s build something transformative.

Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dJaXf3fR

Fullstack Software Engineer – Bridge the gap between cutting-edge software and sustainable transport. Your code will directly enhance the lives of drivers, reduce emissions, and shape the future of mobility.

Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dyQCcxPE

Charging Station Network Supervisor – Oversee the heartbeat of our EV revolution! Ensure seamless operations of our charging network, empower riders, and help scale clean energy access across communities.

Apply here: https://lnkd.in/daxMsC4w

If you are a ready to be part of the Clean Mobility Movement don't let this chance slip away!

Apply today!

With Credit Suisse – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉
09/06/2025

With Credit Suisse – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

Botswana prides in its ambition to embrace clean mobility by completing its first EV Assembly Plant.In April 2024, Gabor...
09/06/2025

Botswana prides in its ambition to embrace clean mobility by completing its first EV Assembly Plant.

In April 2024, Gaborone welcomed the country’s first EV assembly plant

To date, the plant has already produced 68 vehicles (35 SUVs in partnership with Skywell and 33 buses with CHTC Kinwin).

On October 7, 2024, President Mokgweetsi Masisi joined industry leaders at a public ceremony to unveil Botswana’s first locally assembled EVs.

These models pack serious performance:
- SUVs: 520 km range, 20-minute full charge
- Buses: 250 km range, 150 kW motor with 320 Nm torque

Capacity: Semi-automated assembly of up to 3 vehicles per day
No pioneering effort is without bumps in the road. Key hurdles include:
- Minister David Tshere argues that oversight belongs with Trade, not BITRI (Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation).
- Critics point to the plant’s reliance on fossil-fuel–powered grid electricity instead of solar.
- High charging costs of about 30,000 BWP/month (appx. $2,238), have idled many EVs in a Gaborone warehouse.
- And assembly depends entirely on imported Chinese parts, with local battery production blocked by foreign patents.

Still, this plant is a strategic linchpin for Botswana’s future.

It signals a serious green transition, cutting transport emissions.

It diversifies the economy, developing technical skills and new e-mobility jobs.

And it cements Botswana’s role as an African leader in clean-transport manufacturing.

Forging Africa’s clean-mobility revolution is never easy.

Yet by igniting the spark, Botswana has lit the fire that could power the continent’s low-carbon transport future.

Imagine hopping onto a zero-emissions bus, gliding through Nairobi or Kigali,No smoke, no noise, just clean energy power...
03/06/2025

Imagine hopping onto a zero-emissions bus, gliding through Nairobi or Kigali,

No smoke, no noise, just clean energy powering your ride.

Transport SACCOs in Kenya and Rwanda are making that vision a reality by adopting all-electric bus fleets, marking a major leap toward a greener mobility sector in Africa.

Kenya’s Milestone

In Nairobi, OMA Services Limited became the first SACCO to deploy an all-electric bus fleet on a key route, running 12 electric buses between Kariobangi South and the Central Business District.

OMA's CEO, George Githinji explains, “Every time we acquire an electric bus, we retire a diesel one."

Mr. Githinji explains that by 2026, OMA aims to have 30 electric buses in their fleet.

OMA has already reserved 67 more electric buses from BasiGo, leveraging the Pay-As-You-Drive lease model (a Sh1.5 million deposit plus Sh65–75/km) to avoid hefty upfront costs.

Thanks to BasiGo’s support, Kenya saw its first electric-bus assembly plant open in April 2024, partnering with Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers to assemble 1,000 buses over three years.

Today, 65 electric buses run in Kenya and Rwanda, and the network keeps growing.

As Moses Nderitu, BasiGo Kenya Managing Director, notes, “With tax waivers for vehicles containing 30% local content, we’re ramping up production.”

Rwanda’s Breakthrough

Meanwhile, Kigali’s inaugural all-electric scheduled route, from Nyabugogo to Kabuga, went live in May, 2025 with 10 BasiGo electric buses...
..enabled by a partnership with RURA (Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority), the City of Kigali, Ecofleet, and local bus operators.

Between both countries, BasiGo’s electric buses have collectively:

- Driven 4,373,349 km, avoiding 1,959 tons of CO₂

- Conserved 876,376 liters of diesel

- Carried 7,704,034 passengers

Their Pay-As-You-Drive model, which covers charging, maintenance, and roadside assistance, has demolished barriers to entry, giving SACCOs and operators transparency, simplicity, and peace of mind.

Why This Matters
- Cleaner Cities: Electric buses slash local air pollution.

- Lower Costs: Kenya’s 86% renewable-electricity grid ensures charging is affordable, especially if off-peak rates become standard, as in Rwanda.

- Green Jobs: New skills and roles emerge around charging infrastructure, fleet maintenance, and data-driven fleet management.

Congratulations to the BasiGo team and all executives driving this transition.

Your leadership in Kenya and Rwanda is setting the standard for e-mobility across East Africa.

Together, we’re steering our cities toward a sustainable, low-carbon future.

Africa’s bus revolution is here,

And it’s electric.

What happens when you understand and apply the Law of Attraction in Africa’s e-mobility landscape?You attract strategic ...
26/05/2025

What happens when you understand and apply the Law of Attraction in Africa’s e-mobility landscape?

You attract strategic partners, and secure significant funding to power your mission forward.

That’s exactly what ARC Ride, a Nairobi-based EV manufacturer, has done.

The EV company recently announced a partnership with British International Investment (BII), alongside a major funding boost of USD $5 million.

This doesn’t come as a surprise.

Since launching in Kenya in 2020, ARC Ride has grown remarkably, positioning itself as a frontrunner in Africa’s e-mobility revolution.

Today, ARC Ride:
- Operates 150+ battery-swap hubs nationwide
- Is among the first to scale operations beyond Nairobi
- Runs the James Gichuru Hub, Kenya’s first fully solar-powered battery station

These milestones don’t just signal growth, they magnetize the kind of partnerships and capital that accelerate impact.

With support from British International Investment, ARC Ride plans to deploy 5,000 electric motorcycles (Boda Bodas) and expand its battery-swapping network across East Africa.

This funding will further enhance ARC Ride’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model, lowering the upfront cost of electric two-wheelers while enabling fast, convenient battery swaps.

“Electrifying Boda Bodas is essential for creating a green and sustainable future for Kenya,” says Seema Dhanani, CFA, Head of Kenya & Coverage Director, East Africa, at British International Investment.

And according to Cheong, ARC Ride’s CFO, “This is just the beginning.” The company has even more innovation and scale in store.

ARC Ride is no stranger to powerful alliances.

It has also partnered with Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd., a global Tier-1 auto parts giant, to supercharge its battery-swapping infrastructure.

Musashi brings decades of expertise and trusted global relationships to help tailor ARC Ride’s BaaS model to Kenya’s unique transport needs.

Clearly, ARC Ride is mastering the Law of Attraction, drawing in the right partners, at the right time, for the right reasons.

And all of this aligns with Kenya’s ambition to transition to a low-carbon transport system by 2030, supported by its 86% renewable electricity grid.

This collaboration with British International Investment is a shining example of African innovation meeting global climate investment, and together, paving the way for a cleaner, greener future.

Emma Hawkins, Katrina Kwan, , , , , , , ,

What happens when you swap a high-flying career at Citibank US, Credit Suisse, and Swiss Re for Nairobi’s last-mile logi...
22/05/2025

What happens when you swap a high-flying career at Citibank US, Credit Suisse, and Swiss Re for Nairobi’s last-mile logistics challenge?

You get the beautiful 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐥

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐥 is a EV visionary leader charging forward with sustainable solutions that ride on impact.

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 is living proof that women are not lagging behind in the move to revolutionize Africa’s mobility landscape.

In 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭, 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 co-founded 𝐞𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝, alongside 𝐉𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞, to tackle Nairobi’s notorious last-mile logistics bottleneck.

They started with just two electric prototypes: the “𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐢” motorbike and “𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐣𝐚𝐚” cargo e-bike.

What sets 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 apart is her bold ambition: To build Africa’s most complete, tech-enabled delivery ecosystem.

Armed with a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University and an Econ degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, she fuses world-class expertise with a grassroots vision for green mobility.

By early 2023, 𝐞𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 secured a 𝐂𝐇𝐅 𝟓𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 strategic loan from the 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐮𝐩 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 to kickstart local production of 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐣𝐚𝐚 and scale pilot fleets across Kenya.

So, with a fresh injection of capital and a tiny initial footprint, what was 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞’𝐬 big play?

𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞-𝐛𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫:
- 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧: hardware, software, financing, swapping stations
- 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: affordable credit and rider-partnership model
- Clearing the path for green urban transport

𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐞𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭:
- Just 50 eBikes in operation
- Zero formal partnerships with delivery networks
- Limited brand recognition beyond Nairobi

𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐐𝟏 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞’𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐞𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀 𝐡𝐚𝐬:
- Deployed 550+ eBikes, saving over 1,000 tons of CO₂ annually
- Created 600+ rider jobs, with 40% women participation
- Generated $1.6 million in delivery earnings for partners

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞’𝐬 blend of international finance and engineering experience has been instrumental in 𝐞𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀'𝐬 growth.

Her contributions have been recognized by organizations such as 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 and 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫.

As 𝐞𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀 continues to expand, 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 remains committed to driving sustainable innovation and empowering communities across Africa.

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