Ampersand and BYD Sign Historic Agreement to Electrify African Motorcycles
Ampersand, a Kigali-based energy technology startup for electric vehicles, has signed a historic agreement with Chinese giant BYD to improve the development and deployment of electric motorcycles in Africa. According to the signed protocol, the two companies will collaborate to decarbonize the commercial motorcycle transportation system on the continent.
As the primary supplier, Ampersand will purchase batteries from BYD to build approximately 40,000 electric motorcycles by the end of 2026. BYD's batteries are cost-effective, have a long lifespan, and excellent safety features, making them ideal for public electric vehicles. This development is part of a larger mission to electrify most of the 30 million motorcycles in Africa, most of which still run on fuel.
Ampersand, which owns the largest charging network in Rwanda and Kenya, will leverage the partnership to expand its charging infrastructure to accommodate more electric motorcycles. The expansion will enable the company to meet the growing demand for commercial motorcycles in African cities, becoming a sustainable solution to support the continent's economic growth.
The combination of BYD's battery technology and manufacturing scale, paired with Ampersand's market knowledge and technical expertise, is expected to thrive in a demanding and rapidly evolving market.