Electric Motorcycles Could Transform Africa’s Transport

Locally made electric motorcycles, paired with solar power, offer Africa affordable, sustainable mobility while creating jobs and reducing emissions.

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Across much of Africa, motorcycles are more than leisure vehicles, they are lifelines. They transport commuters, goods, medicines, and schoolchildren, while supporting livelihoods. Yet of the 27 million motorcycles in sub-Saharan Africa, only 0.1% are electric.

In 2024, engineers from Stellenbosch University rode a locally made electric motorcycle from Kenya to South Africa using only solar power and battery storage. The 6,000km journey showed that electric motorcycles are practical under real African conditions and could reduce emissions, lower costs for riders, and improve urban air quality.

Electric motorcycles with battery swapping fit African realities: short daily trips, constant use, and low-cost transport. Local production could create jobs in assembly, battery integration, electronics, and servicing. Pairing these bikes with decentralized solar systems can make charging reliable even in areas without grid electricity, while improving access to jobs, education, and healthcare.

The challenge now is policy. Supportive measures, like lower tariffs on components, tax incentives, clear standards, and cross-border collaboration, can help Africa build its own electric mobility industry. With the right investment, electric motorcycles can move people affordably and sustainably while harnessing the continent’s abundant solar energy.