Faith Nyasuguta
Emissions in Rwanda are slowly dropping as more fuel vehicles are being converted into electric cars.
Electric motorcycle taxis are also helping to drive the change in a country where fuel guzzlers dominate the roads.
The CEO of Rwanda Electric Motors Limited, Donald Kabanda says the argument for conversion is strong.
“One battery can cover up to 60 kilometres and it costs 900 [Rwandan] francs($0.87), and if you compare it to one litre of petrol that costs about 1,000 Rwandan francs ($0.97) and it covers only 35 kilometres, so if you compare economically there is an advantage for the riders”, the CEO said.
For many, the challenge is majorly on the lack of an extensive charging network.
“My clients are happy with the electric motorcycle. They move so well compared to the fuel motorcycles. The only problem they find is that the distance they cover is relatively small because of unavailability of electricity“, motorcycle driver Evode Niyorurema reveals.
Rwandan authorities are set to convert 30 percent of motorcycles, 20 percent of buses and 25 percent of mini and micro buses to electric power before 2030.
“So far we have retrofitted 80 bikes and we have new pure electric, around 200 bikes, that are already in operation”, Donald Kabanda added.
The conversion policy is financed by the Rwandan government and the United Nations Development Programme.
Recent Comments