Uber marks growth of Electric Boda in Kenya one year since launch
One year after the launch of Uber’s first electric mobility product in Africa, the company is noting significant growth of Electric Boda in Nairobi where it was rolled out.
Uber rolled out the electric bikes as a step towards meeting its global goal to be a zero-emissions platform by 2040.
Uber says its Electric Boda has seen an 81% increase in active driver sign-ups, for whom the product was launched to provide savings in total ownership costs from 30%-35%, with fuel being the most significant cost. The affordability of the product for Nairobi residents has led to a 94% increase in trips since launch in August 2023. Uber Electric Boda is now also available in the Central Business District (CBD) which has historically been challenging for two-wheeler mobility products to access for passenger pick up and drop offs and deliveries.
To support road safety, going forward, passengers taking Uber Electric Boda trips will receive a dedicated helmet, which will be supplied by Greenwheels Africa. In addition, drivers on Electric Boda are required to take alco-blow tests at the start and close of daily shifts.
“Kenya is a great launching pad for innovation and the successful launch of Uber Electric Boda is testament to this. The introduction of Electric Boda on the platform has given drivers an additional avenue through which to access increased earnings. Furthermore, it remains a top priority for us to continue doing our part to aid the transition to eco-friendly mobility products and support the country’s national sustainability objectives,” said Imran Manji, Head of East Africa, Uber.
Electric Boda has been made available in the country at a time when the government is implementing the National Electric Mobility Policy, which focuses on creating a greener transportation system and rolling out diverse initiatives for sustainable road traffic management. According to the World Bank, the boda boda sector in Kenya employs over 1.5 million young people and contributes approximately Kshs. 202 billion to the economy annually.
Nabil Anjarwalla, Chief Executive Officer, Greenwheels, said, “We are proud to mark this milestone in powering Kenya’s transition to green mobility in collaboration with Uber. In our first year, we've already carried over 700K passengers and travelled more than 12 million kilometres on electric motorcycles, and there's more yet to come! As we continue to scale, we're committed to the reduction in carbon emissions, providing formal employment and stable income to motorcycle drivers, and contributing to helping Nairobians move around the city in a safe, convenient way.”
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