A plan is currently underway between the Nairobi City County Government, the Matatu and Boda boda Operators Federation, and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to have Opibus convert motorcycles to EV. – By Meshack Makau
Mikael Gange, an engineer from Opibus, a Kenyan startup based in Industrial Area, Nairobi, earlier today to demonstrated to bodaboda taxi operators a newly EV converted motorbike.
The official launch of the motorbike is expected to be early next year. The bike will cost an estimated value of Ksh. 120,000.
Once charged, one will be able to ride for 100 kilometers before recharging. The engineer told the bodaboda riders that charging stations will be set up in petrol stations at a cost of Ksh. 40.
The rate flats out the current cost of petrol, whereby a rider will spend 105.85 per liter that will take them for about 60 kms.
The motorbike will also run on automatic engines compared to the fuel operated ones. The bike will not have a clutch and gear meaning that one will only ignite the engine and take off.
This ‘relief’ to the bodaboda operators comes at time when the government eyes on decongesting the Nairobi CBD by constructing four different bus terminus that will see all the PSVs terminate their operations.
Several boda riders expressed their interest in the machine with some even requesting the motorbike be sold to them immediately.
“Why wait till next year and sell us the bike? Why don’t you sell it now? It’s going to save money because we use a lot of it to buy fuel,” said John Wanyoike a boda boda rider.
However, after a round or two of testing, there are those that suggested for some modification of the bike.
“It will be better if you put more power during take off because we sometimes find ourselves in trouble with the county askaris,” said Wycliff Barasa.
The riders told Uzalendo news that they hope the engineer will put into considerations their concerns.
