A lot has been said out there but one thing is for sure; electric mobility is the future. Talking about electric mobility, the motorcycle and bicycle industries in Kenya are expected to be the biggest beneficiaries as this technology rolls out.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Standards shows that about 150,000 motorcycles enter the Kenyan market every year the majority of them being cabs (aka boda bodas). These numbers are expected to grow especially as the government moves to reduce VAT on electric bikes and their spare parts.
So, there’s no doubt that this industry will be greatly impacted by e-mobility especially as the country seeks to reduce its dependency on imported oil and of course cut emissions.
Already there are tens of electric-powered bikes on sale in the Kenyan market. We’ll be sampling some of the best electric bikes in Kenya to help you make the right call the next time you’re out there shopping for one.
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The Best Electric Bikes in Kenya
In a nutshell, these are some of the leading e-bike brands in the country:
- Roam Air by Roam
- Magnus 3000 Nduthi-E by Mazi Electric
- Corbett by Arc Ride
- Ampersand
- KRIDN by Stima Boda
- Umeme 3000 by eCoBodaa
- eBee Electric Bicycle
Let us break them down further for you. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide toward the bottom end of this article to help you choose right.
Table of Contents
Range: 140KM
Top Speed: 90KPH
Cash Price: from Ksh200,000
Roam Air is one of the most popular electric motorcycles in Kenya. The bike is assembled in Kenya and offers a wide range of features for our challenging roads.
First off, it offers a decent ground clearance meaning it can be used to navigate dirt roads with ease.
Besides that, it comes with two powerful batteries each one with a range of 70KM i.e., 140KM for both. That is to say, you can ride from the CBD to Ruiru and back for 3 trips and still have enough power left to run a few errands. Or 2 return trips to areas like Kitengela, Kiserian, and Limuru.
The best thing about Roam Air is that it offers you two charging options. You can either collect a fully charged battery from the company’s swapping stations or simply recharge it at home using the provided charger.
And what about power? This thing is a beast! It can comfortably carry 220kg of luggage and achieve speeds of up to 90kph in ideal conditions. The motorbike also accelerates really fast moving from 0-60kph in under 7-seconds. That’s really fast for a boda boda bike and in fact faster than most cars on our roads currently.
The Roam Air e-motorcycle costs $1500 (200,000) for a single-battery model and $2,050 (Ksh300,000) for a dual-battery model.
Pros
- Well built
- High ground clearance
- Home charger provided
- Above-average battery range
- Fast acceleration
- Really cheap to operate
Cons
- The upfront purchase cost is high
ALSO READ: BEST MOTORCYCLE TRACKER IN KENYA
Range: 140KM
Top Speed: 80KPH
Cash Price: from Ksh130,000
If you are always looking forward to supporting Kenyan innovations the Magnus 3000 e-motorcycle is what you should consider. The company behind this bike (Mazi) was founded by Jesse Forrester who grew up in the informal settlements of Nairobi.
Jesse reportedly assembled his first batch of electric bikes from his living room and is now taking the world by storm. But just how good is the Magnus 3000?
Well, the Magnus 3000 bike comes with two batteries which combine to provide a battery range of 140KM. Once again, that’s enough to get most errands around the city done with ease. The bike has a top speed of 80KPH.
The company is busy setting up battery charging stations across the country and currently has them across the different corners of Nairobi.
Unfortunately, the Magnus 3000 does not provide a home charger meaning you have to swap the battery at one of their swapping stations.
The good thing about that kind of arrangement is that you never have to worry about the cost of replacing the battery in the future. Each time you do a swap, they provide you with a fresh battery.
The Magnus 3000 costs Ksh130,000 for a 1-battery model and Ksh180,000 for a dual-battery model.
Pros
- Spearheaded by a Kenyan innovator
- Great build quality
- Charging stations available across Nairobi
- Affordably priced
- Decent top speed
Cons
- No home charger provided
Range: 60KM
Top Speed: 60KPH
Cash Price: from Ksh180,000
The Corbett is a cute little scooter-cum-motorcycle that is designed with simple trips around the city area in mind. As a scooter, it comes with a step-through chassis which makes it really easy to mount and dismount.
The bike offers a modest battery of 60KM. Yup, that’s just enough for 3 return trips from the CBD to Roysambu. You absolutely don’t want to take this bike for a long-distance trip!
Another thing worth noting is that the Corbett offers a top speed of 60KPH. That’s fast enough for most city roads but will not cut it if you’re planning to be using the major highways on a regular basis.
One thing that really impresses us about this e-motorcycle is that it is quite well-built. Its frame is made of good quality metal. The bike also comes with eye-catching 14-inch alloy rims. And don’t let its unconventional looks fool you – this thing can carry loads of up to 200 Kilograms.
And the best part? The company behind it, Arc Ride, has swapping stations across Nairobi including the out-lying areas of Mlolongo and Kitengela. Unfortunately, the bike cannot be recharged at home with conventional chargers.
Pros
- Built with durability in mind
- Wide variety of colors to choose from
- Large network of swapping stations
- Easy to mount and dismount
- Can carry up to 200 Kilograms of load
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Modest top-speed & range
- No home charging mechanism
Range: 72KM
Top Speed: 80KPH
Cash Price: from Ksh185,000
Ampersand is yet another tried, tested, and proven electric bike on Kenyan roads. With an impressive range of 72KM and a thriving road-rescue program, Ampersand gives you the peace of mind you need to conquer the road ahead.
The company has tens of swapping stations dotting all over Nairobi. In a past interview, the Ampersand country director Mr. Hezbon Mose said they currently have embarked on a goal to make sure they have a swapping station for every 5KM.
It costs Ksh185 to recharge a battery.
The bike boasts a respectable top speed of 80kph making it just fast enough for most daily biking needs. Besides that, it generates 67 Nm torque making it powerful enough to haul sizeable luggage.
One outstanding feature of the Ampersand bike has to be the storage compartment that is provided conveniently where the fuel tank would be. This storage compartment is great for keeping your precious items safe even when you’re on the move.
Small qualms with the otherwise fantastic electric bike would be that it lacks a mechanism for recharging the battery at home. One has to visit the company’s swapping stations for this.
Pros
- Wide network of swapping stations
- Road rescue program available
- Powerful motor
- Good ground clearance
- Handy storage compartment
Cons
- No home recharge mechanism
Range: 100KM
Top Speed: 95KPH
Cash Price: Instalments Only
Stima Boda is one of the leading battery-as-a-service (BaaS) providers in Kenya. They are based along Ojijo Road in Westlands, Nairobi.
Although Stima Boda does not produce motorbikes under its name, it partners with an Indian company called KRIDN for the same. KRIDN is one of the leading producers of electric bikes in India and they are looking to expand their presence in Africa as well.
One of their popular motorbikes available on the Stima Boda platform is the One Electric variant. This bike model is designed with Kenya’s rugged terrain in mind. As such, it comes with a good clearance and tough alloy rims.
The bike has a range of 100KM meaning it is just enough for a whole day of work for most boda boda riders. As far as acceleration is concerned, this bad boy takes off from 0-60KPH in 8 seconds making it almost as fast as Roam Air.
The bike has a load capacity of 150KG making it enough to carry most types of luggage.
Stima Boda has battery swapping stations available across the city including in areas like Kangundo Road, Garden City, and Dagoretti Corner. It costs Ksh280 to swap a battery for a fully recharged one.
On the flip side, though, the bike is not available for cash purchase. It can only be bought in installments whereby you pay a deposit of Ksh15,000 and installments of Ksh454/day for 24 months.
Pros
- Sporty looking bike
- Awesome top speed
- Fantastic battery range
- Widely distributed swapping stations
- Rider rescue program available
Cons
- Installments only (no cash deal)
ALSO READ: MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE IN KENYA
Range: 80KM
Top Speed: 120KPH
Cash Price: from 186,000
The eCoBodaa Umeme 3000 bike is yet another motorbike to make it to our list of top-rated electric bikes in Kenya. Behind the company is yet another Kenyan innovator, Kimosop Chepkoit. The company was started in 2020 and has over the years grown from strength to strength.
Back to Umeme 3000, what you get is a powerful motorcycle designed with the Kenyan landscape in mind. The bike has a power rating of 3.24 kWh and a charge time of 4.5 hours. And the best part is that the battery is swappable at the company’s swap stations which are found in areas like Kibra, Mlolongo, Athi River, and Kitengela.
It costs Ksh200 to recharge/swap a battery at various eCoBodaa outlets. Once fully charged an Umeme 3000 battery can last for up to 80KM and there is an option to go for the dual-battery capacity which lasts twice as much.
Pros
- Dual battery functionality
- Powerful motor
- Rugged motorbike
- Fantastic top speed
- Good load capacity
Cons
- No charging port for home use
- Limited swapping stations network
Range: 80KM
Top Speed: 33KPH
Cash Price: from Ksh89,999
If you prefer bicycles to motorbikes the eBee electric bicycle might just be what you are looking for. Founded in 2021 in Kenya by investors of Dutch background, eBee stands out with its unique products in the era of electric motoring.
Two bike models are available in their selection namely eBee Nyuki and eBee eBX. The Nyuki model comes with a carrier seat and is meant for deliveries. The eBX variant on the other hand is optimized for commute and leisure use.
Both bikes have a top speed of 33 KPH and a battery range of 80KM. Each bike comes with a charger enabling you to recharge the battery at home or wherever you might be. What’s more, should the battery run out, you can still ride the bike manually.
In a nutshell, the eBee offers all the benefits you’d be looking for in a Kenyan-assembled electric bike and then some!
Pros
- Great build quality
- Comes with a charger
- Ideal for hilly terrain
- Significantly cheaper than e-motorbikes
- Ideal for daily commute
Cons
- Low top speed for downhill terrain
- eBX lacks a carrier seat
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How To Identify the Best Electric Bike in Kenya
With tens of electric bikes available and more to come, choosing the perfect one from a vast range can be challenging. Here are some essential factors to consider when choosing from the best electric bikes in Kenya.
- Range – The longer the riding range the better. You want to choose a bike that provides you with at least 60KM of riding range for city riding and at least 100KM if you often have to visit the outskirts as well.
- Swapping Stations – The electric motorbikes industry is still in its infancy in Kenya but companies are doing their best to set up as many swapping stations as possible. When choosing an e-bike be sure to consider settling for one with a wide branch network of swapping stations within your neighborhood or route.
- Cost – The price of electric bikes ranges from Ksh100,000 for bicycles to Ksh300,000 for motorcycles. Dual-battery motorcycles tend to cost more than single-battery ones. In general, the more the features available, the more you can expect to pay.
- Warranty – Any company that markets good quality bikes will be confident enough to stand behind the quality of its products. Only go for bikes that come with a warranty.
- Road Rescue – Since this is a relatively new industry, there aren’t many mechanics who know how to fix electric bikes in case they break down. It pays to know that the company you bought the bike from can dispatch road rescue to you just in case.
Our Verdict
The electric bike market is budding in Kenya and Africa as a whole. Tens of e-bike brands have already set up shop in the area and it takes a discerning eye to separate the chaff from the wheat.
Roam Air by Roam seems like the bike that ticks all the right boxes for now. It comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern electric motorcycle. It is a bit pricey but definitely worth looking into.
If you’re into bicycles, the eBee range of bikes might be worth pondering on even though we hope to see more companies joining this space soon.
Lastly, the entire electric bike industry in the country is just unfolding. With new developments coming up on a regular basis, you can count on us to keep you updated on this extremely important topic.