A quiet revolution is underway in Africa that appears to be going mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. A green revolution in energy, transport and regeneration. A revolution that has the potential to unlock A Wonderful Green Future for the people of Africa.
Of all the sectors driving Africa’s clean energy and environmental transformation, two-wheel transport stands out as the most dynamic and rapidly evolving. Africa is currently experiencing a surge in homegrown motorcycle designers and manufacturers, with at least 10 companies now in operation. These bikes have all been designed in Africa, for African conditions. Just six years ago the nascent bike industry was developing modified ICE bikes with hub motors. After six years of dedicated learning and continuous improvement, they present the latest generation of bikes that we see today. Some are made abroad, some built locally with imported parts, some have developed their own battery technology and some are developing their own battery swapping ecosystems. Many of the manufacturers have been smart in using common parts from the most popular ICE bikes. Leavers, brakes, forks wheels, etc. which means spare parts are abundant. This makes it easier to tap into existing supply chains and start new businesses and manufacturing, developed around common parts. This builds more resilience into the system, creates more local jobs and keeps more money in local economies.
Some of the standout manufacturers leading this surge include:
Spiro – Nairobi, Kenya.
Spiro is Africa’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, currently operating over 20,000 electric motorbikes across nine African countries including Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company has established its own network with over 600 battery swapping stations. (https://www.spironet.com)
Roam – Nairobi, Kenya.
Roam, a Swedish-Kenyan electric mobility company, has established itself as a pioneer in Africa’s sustainable transportation sector. The company designs and manufactures electric motorcycles tailored for African conditions, with its flagship model, the Roam Air. Roam has raised over $31.5 million in funding, including a recent $24 million Series A round, positioning itself for significant expansion across the continent. It has also developed its own battery swapping system and charging facilities. (https://www.roam-electric.com)
Kofa – Ghana
Kofa, a Ghanaian clean-tech startup, has developed a multi-use, high-capacity battery system called Kore2, alongside an innovative battery swapping network. Kofa’s business model focuses on creating an affordable and customer-driven electricity network powered by portable batteries and renewable energy. In partnership with TAIL-G, a globally recognised e-motorcycle manufacturer, Kofa has designed the Jidi e-motorcycle specifically for the African market, offering a range of over 100km. (https://www.kofa.co)
Ampersand – Rwanda
Ampersand is a pioneering electric motorcycle startup based in Kigali, Rwanda, transforming urban transportation through its innovative battery swapping technology. Founded in 2019, the company has rapidly scaled from 20 initial e-motos to become a significant player in East Africa’s emerging electric vehicle market. Its battery swapping system, allows motorcycle taxi drivers to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones in under two minutes. This approach solves critical challenges of electric vehicle adoption in Africa: charging time and infrastructure limitations. (https://www.ampersand.solar)
What Ampersand is doing also ties in with other African EV leadership and the phasing out of petrol motorcycles, which I wrote about here: https://owgf.org/2024/11/07/kigalis-bold-move-phasing-out-petrol-powered-motorcycles/. From January 1st, 2025, only electric motorcycles can be registered in Rwanda.
Zembo – Kampala, Uganda
Founded in 2018, Zembo is a pioneering e-mobility startup based in Kampala, Uganda. The company designs, assembles, and sells electric motorcycles tailored for the African market, particularly targeting the popular “boda boda” (motorcycle taxi) sector. Zembo’s business model combines affordable electric motorcycles with a battery-as-a-service (BaaS) approach, utilising a network of solar-powered battery swapping stations across Uganda. (https://www.zem.bo/)
Other manufacturers of note include: https://www.max.ng – https://www.ewaka.tech – https://greenfoot.africa – https://www.ecobodaa.bike and I should make an honourable mention to the electric three wheelers which are now getting more popular: https://cleantechnica.com/2024/09/19/electric-3-wheeler-sales-reach-1-market-share-in-kenya/
Ethiopia’s ban on ICEV
To match all of this innovation, some countries are backing it up with new laws to curb the consumption of fossil fuels. Ethiopia has become the first country in the world to implement an immediate ban on the import of internal combustion engine vehicles, allowing only electric vehicles to enter the country. This bold move, announced by Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, aims to reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuel imports, which cost nearly $6 billion last year, and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles in line with the country’s green development goals. (CleanTechnica.com) Currently the main issues are training mechanics to work on EVs and charging infrastructure. Most vehicles are either charged at home or at work and there is little in the way of public rapid charging.
Other EV initiatives
While China has been very active in the EV market recently, Africa’s electrification is also being noticed by a few European EV makers, from big to small. New EV designs that specifically cater for African conditions are being developed which will only make adoption more likely.
Volkswagen Group Africa has officially commenced operations at its new multifunctional facility in Gashora, Rwanda, aimed at testing modern farming techniques using electric tractors as part of the innovative GenFarm project. This initiative is designed to create a sustainable ecosystem for mechanised farming in rural Africa, enhancing agricultural productivity while promoting environmental sustainability and clean energy solutions (https://kigalijournal.com/volkswagen-group-africa-launches-facility-for-e-tractors-in-rwanda/)
Also there is OX Delivers. An electric truck that is a purpose-built, flat-pack vehicle specifically designed for African road conditions, featuring high ground clearance and a sturdy construction that can handle unpaved roads and challenging terrain. With a 74-KWh battery providing over 90 miles of range, and a unique truck-as-a-service model, the OX electric truck aims to revolutionise transportation and logistics for smallholder farmers and businesses across East Africa. What OX is doing is very different to other EV makers and it’s worth watching this excellent video from Fully Charged about them: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMIcmYOBd-E )
Renewable Energy
Outside of transport there is now lots of activity in the clean energy sector. Energy independence is absolutely crucial for Africa due to the high costs of fossil fuel imports and the impact on balance of trade payments. The majority of African countries are net energy importers, with 38 nations relying heavily on imported fossil fuels[2]. This dependence exposes African nations to volatile global oil prices, jeopardising their balance of payments positions and eroding economic prosperity. As the cost of imported energy continues to increase, government subsidies in some African countries have tripled in recent years, reaching record highs and further straining national budgets[6]. By achieving energy independence, through renewable resources, African nations can reduce their vulnerability to price fluctuations, improve their trade balances, and redirect funds towards sustainable development rather than fossil fuel imports[3][4].
This means that right across Africa many leaders are pushing for as much new renewable energy as possible. The continent’s installed renewable capacity is set to grow from 54 GW in 2020 to more than 530 GW by 2040, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), with solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity soaring to 340 GW and wind energy rising to 90 GW.
All across Africa there are 100’s of projects in development or under construction. From truly massive projects like the G5 Sahel Desert to Power Project, a $10 billion project aiming to add 10 GW of solar capacity across 11 Sahel countries[4], to much smaller but also very important projects like the Roggeveld Wind Farm (South Africa). A 147 MW project owned by Red Rocket[5][6]. While the larger African economies are getting the most projects there is activity right across the continent.
Africa Minigrid Program
What is just as exciting is the Africa Minigrid Program. This approach to energy production and consumption brings affordability, resilience and energy independence down to the micro level. Villages, communities and homes that have never been able to connect to the main grid, due to cost, are now being connected up to micro grids. 80% of people in sub-Saharan Africa don’t have access to clean, safe fuels and technologies for cooking. That represents 923 million people. Many rely on noisy, inefficient, expensive and polluting generators for electricity production. The roll out of minigrids and other adjacent technologies like P2P energy trading will change all this.
I wrote about one such project in Zimbabwe here (https://owgf.org/2024/10/29/zimbabwe-solar-mini-grid/) You can read more about the Africa Minigrid Program here: https://africaminigrids.org/category/news/ This is a relatively new development but more projects like this are due to happen in 2025.
Regeneration
Outside the clean energy revolution there are numerous regeneration initiatives happening across Africa. Desertification is a critical issue affecting Africa, with 45% of the continent’s land area currently impacted and 55% of this affected land is at high or very high risk of further degradation. This widespread land degradation threatens the livelihoods of millions who depend on the land for subsistence. The solution to this problem is regeneration on a massive scale.
The Great Green Wall
No other African environmental project has been more talked about than The Great Green Wall. This African-led initiative is aiming to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land across the Sahel region, with the goal of combating desertification, sequestering 250 million tonnes of carbon, and creating 10 million green jobs by 2030. The project is currently about 15% complete and has already restored 18 million hectares of land and is transforming the lives of millions by creating a mosaic of green and productive landscapes across 11 countries, from Senegal in the West to Djibouti in the East. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/green-wall-promote-peace-and-restore-nature-africas-sahel-region
Food Forests
Part of the Great Green Wall initiative involves the creation of food forests. At the heart of this initiative lies small quarter-acre plots that encapsulates the project’s essence. These tiny pieces of land can provide everything a family needs, from building materials to food production, habitat, and temperature regulation. I wrote about this in a previous post here: https://owgf.org/2023/12/02/how-8000-food-forests-grew-africas-great-green-wall/
Earth Smiles
One of the main techniques for regeneration is the use of water bunds, or as they are more affectionately know as “Earth Smiles.” This is an innovative environmental initiative aimed at regreening degraded landscapes in sub-Saharan Africa. These water bunds are semi-circular pits designed to capture and retain rainwater, preventing it from running off and being wasted. By slowing down water flow and allowing it to infiltrate the soil, these bunds help restore moisture to arid lands, promoting vegetation growth and improving biodiversity. The approach emphasises community involvement, ensuring that those most affected by environmental degradation actively participate in reversing it. Through this grassroots approach, “Earth Smiles” are transforming barren landscapes into thriving ecosystems while addressing climate change at both local and global levels. Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison has made an excellent video on them.
AFR100
Another massive regeneration initative is African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) A country-led effort to restore 100 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes across Africa by 2030. With 33 African nations committed and 129 million hectares pledged for restoration, AFR100 leverages local expertise and a network of technical and financial partners to implement thousands of community-led projects, addressing issues such as food security, climate change resilience and rural poverty through sustainable landscape restoration practices. Their website is filled with hundreds of projects that have already been undertaken. https://afr100.org/
Wrapping up
While there is clearly lots of great things happening in Africa, it isn’t all rosy on the environmental front. There is still considerable destruction happening, especially with logging and deforestation, which remain a big concern. Also despite all the new Renewables projects, fossil fuels consumption is still growing. On top of this nations are increasingly being affected by global heating and extreme weather. A Wonderful Green Future is not assured, but as this article points out, there is a way forward emerging. This post has only scratched the surface on all the environmental projects happening in Africa. As more projects happen, more knowledge is shared, more people see what is possible, get involved, and then hopefully this quiet revolution will pick up pace.
A huge thank you to Remeredzai Joseph Kuhudzai for chatting to me about his on the ground experience in Africa. You can see his work here: https://cleantechnica.com/author/remeredzaijosephkuhudzai/
Other links of interest:
Justdiggit is a non-profit organisation supporting the earth smiles initiative – https://justdiggit.org/
Other information on restoring ecosystems in Africa via the UN. – https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/africa-restoring-ecosystems-central-green-recovery
Introduction to Africa’s green revolution – https://www.green.earth/blog/carbon-ar-afforestation-reforestation-projects-africa
Some thoughts on China’s role in Africa: https://theconversation.com/chinas-interests-in-africa-are-being-shaped-by-the-race-for-renewable-energy-237679
Rwanda announces master plan for EV infrastructure – https://www.electrive.com/2024/12/04/rwanda-announces-master-plan-for-ev-infrastructure/
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