The country sparking Africa's e-bike revolution

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on BBC or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Rwanda is pursuing an ambitious plan to electrify its fleet of over 100,000 motorbikes, despite facing a weak national electricity grid
• Backed by government incentives and a wave of e-mobility startups like Ampersand, Spiro, and Rwanda
• Electric Motors, the country is implementing solar-powered charging stations, battery swapping schemes, and retrofitting services to scale electric mobility
• So far, over 4,800 electric bikes are in use, with the potential to significantly reduce emissions and fuel costs

🔭 The context: Motorbike taxis are a mainstay of transportation in Rwanda, but account for nearly one-third of traffic-related emissions
• With grid instability persisting — despite rising electrification rates — Rwanda’s government and private sector are investing in off-grid solutions such as mini-grids and solar infrastructure to support the transition
• Other African nations like Kenya and Nigeria have introduced EV policies, but Rwanda is emerging as a continental leader in implementation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: If successful, Rwanda’s model could become a blueprint for sustainable mobility in low-income, energy-constrained countries
• E-bikes powered by renewables can sharply cut emissions, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and improve urban air quality
• However, the approach depends heavily on continued investment in solar infrastructure, energy storage, and equitable access to mobility services — particularly in rural areas

⏭️ What's next: Startups are scaling solar-powered battery swap stations and exploring second-life uses for degraded e-bike batteries, including powering mini-grids
• Partnerships with companies like TotalEnergies and local energy firms aim to expand clean charging networks
• Rwanda’s electrification strategy will be tested as the number of electric motorbikes grows, requiring balancing grid demand with renewable expansion
• Regulatory frameworks and financial support will be critical for national and regional scale-up

💬 One quote: “This creates the missing link for a sustainable adoption of electric mobility,” — Léandre Berwa, CEO of e-waste firm SLS Energy, referring to battery repurposing for rural mini-grids

📈 One stat: Ampersand’s fleet of 2,750 e-bikes currently offsets approximately 7,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually

Click for more news covering the latest on sustainable mobility and ethical governance