by Arturs Cakars, Eleving Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

As the demand for climate-focused actions intensifies, East Africa’s transportation landscape is poised for transformation. In a region where motorcycles are essential to everyday life, Eleving Group is at the forefront, challenging the shift to electric mobility across Kenya and Uganda. Through our commitment to sustainable mobility, the Group enables riders to transition to cleaner, more affordable transport that reduces pollution, generates savings, and strengthens local economies.

A Greener Path to Economic Empowerment

For riders in Nairobi and Kampala, where motorcycles are essential for transportation and income generation and widely used by SMEs and self-employed, Eleving Group’s financing of nearly 2,000 electric motorcycles has opened doors to a more sustainable and economically viable future. With an average loan size of around 1,000 euros, these eco-friendly motorcycles offer a cleaner alternative to petrol-powered motorcycles. Since the product launch in 2022, the company’s clients have collectively covered over 10 million kilometers without directly emitting CO₂, resulting in an impressive saving of over 300 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

The financial impact on riders is equally transformative. By reducing fuel costs by around 2 euros per day, electric bike riders can increase their earnings significantly to up to 60 euros a month. Due to lower maintenance and energy costs, e-motorcycle riders earn up to 50% more than their petrol-powered counterparts. As riders reinvest their profits into their businesses and communities, this creates a ripple effect, empowering individuals and strengthening local economies across Kenya, Uganda, and neighboring regions.

Empowering Communities through Sustainable Mobility Solutions

One of the key barriers to electric vehicle adoption in Africa is unfamiliarity with the technology and lack of infrastructure. Understanding this, Eleving Group has introduced rider-focused measures designed to ease the transition, including battery-swapping services. Together with our partners, we have created a reasonably wide network of battery exchange points in major cities and plan to expand it further. In practice, this means that an owner of an electric motorcycle comes to one of our battery exchange points with his empty battery and receives a new, safe, and fully charged one in return. A similar principle to petrol stations. By helping riders embrace electric technology confidently, we build the foundations of a long-term, sustainable mobility movement across East Africa.

And it all goes beyond economic benefits—it’s a commitment to healthier communities. These electric motorcycles not only eliminate CO₂ emissions but also reduce noise pollution, creating quieter streets and enhancing the quality of life in urban areas. Additionally, the growth of the electric mobility sector spurs job creation, promotes infrastructure development, and paves the way for innovation, all of which are essential for community empowerment.

What's next?

Eleving Group’s success in Kenya and Uganda marks the beginning of a larger mission to embed green mobility into East Africa’s mobility network. With plans to double the Group’s e-mobility financing in 2025 and a target to finance over 28,000 e-motorcycle units by the end of 2028, we envision a future where electric transportation is a staple of African cities. We are committed to creating lasting change in East Africa, and by making electric mobility accessible, we’re building a cleaner future and new economic and business opportunities.