Nairobi, Kenya, 22 May 2024 – Spiro, Africa's largest EV company, is excited to announce the launch of its electric bikes in Nairobi following a successful debut in Mombasa. By the end of July, there will be 1,000 Spiro bikes on the road in Nairobi, significantly enhancing the city’s transportation options.
Building on its commitment to sustainable transportation, Spiro has also added to Nairobi's EV infrastructure with a series of traditional and automated smart swapping and charging stations. These stations are strategically located across the city to ensure easy access and convenience for riders, promoting a seamless transition to electric mobility.
Spiro's Pan African smart energy ecosystem is designed to offer a comprehensive and innovative solution for electric mobility. This ecosystem includes automated battery swapping, State of Charge (SoC) monitoring, Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, digital wallets, proprietary mapping, and geolocation services.
The automated battery swapping stations allow riders to quickly exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones, minimizing downtime and enhancing efficiency. These stations use advanced SoC technology to monitor battery levels and ensure optimal performance. IoT connectivity enables real-time tracking and management of the battery network, ensuring that each station is stocked and operational.
Spiro’s digital wallet system facilitates seamless transactions, allowing riders to pay for services easily and securely. The proprietary mapping and geolocation services provide riders with accurate navigation and the locations of the nearest swapping and charging stations, enhancing the overall user experience.
The basic battery swapping process involves riders arriving at a swapping station, where they can quickly exchange their low-charge battery for a fully charged one. This process is designed to be user-friendly and efficient, significantly reducing the time and effort required to recharge electric vehicles.
Kaushik Burman, CEO of Spiro, commented: "Expanding our services to Nairobi is a significant milestone for Spiro. Our goal is to lead Africa's transition to sustainable transportation, and this launch is a crucial step in that direction. We are providing Nairobi residents with efficient, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional transportation."
Kshitij Sharma, Head of Spiro Kenya, added: "This expansion demonstrates our dedication to supporting sustainable urban mobility in Kenya. We are excited to see the positive impact our electric bikes and advanced infrastructure will have on Nairobi’s environment and public health."
Spiro is the largest electric vehicle company in Africa, with over 14,000 bikes and over 9 million swaps in five countries. Operating across multiple African nations, Spiro's mission is to reduce environmental impact and enhance urban mobility, build an integrated EV ecosystem in Africa with a multitude of partners, and establish a wide range of charging infrastructure which includes battery swapping and direct charging.
In Africa, greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are growing at a rate of 7% each year. Air pollution is the second biggest killer across the continent, associated with heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Around 1.1 million people die prematurely from air pollution in Africa each year.
Nairobi, in particular, suffers from high levels of air pollution, with vehicle emissions being a major contributor. The city’s pollution levels often exceed the World Health Organization’s recommended limits, leading to severe health issues for its residents.
Spiro provides a solution by offering clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation options through its fleet of electric motorbikes and extensive battery swapping infrastructure. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering emissions, Spiro is actively contributing to the improvement of air quality and public health in Nairobi.
Notes to Editors:
Spiro is a leading EV company, with more than 14,000 innovative electric bikes deployed across Africa. Our innovative battery swapping technology allows riders to exchange batteries easily and safely in a matter of seconds at our battery swapping stations. Spiro is delivering clean energy and sustainable transportation in Benin, Togo, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Nigeria.
Spiro riders have collectively driven almost a quarter of a BILLION KM without polluting Earth's atmosphere.
Spiro's technical innovation centre, based in Pune, has developed the technology platforms to deliver a Pan African smart energy ecosystem, powering the transition to sustainable transportation across the continent.
Our mission is to lead the transition to clean energy and smart transportation, ensuring a greener future for the continent.
Spiro is a subsidiary of Equitane, a global conglomerate focused on creating sustainable and innovative solutions across diverse industries. With a mission to lead responsible development worldwide, Equitane invests in and supports companies that align with its vision of integrating sustainability into business practices. The group is made up of leading subsidiaries in sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, agribusiness, and technology, each contributing uniquely to our collective impact.