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Ampersand Battery Swapping Network

An electric mobility energy network for light vehicles in Africa which is cheaper and more powerful

July 2021

Ampersand Battery Swapping Network

An electric mobility energy network for light vehicles in Africa which is cheaper and more powerful

  • World Alliance Member
  • Featured Solution
  • Labelled Solution
Label Date July 21, 2021
From Rwanda
Maturity stage TRL 9 / CRI 2 - Commercial Trial Small Scale

Ampersand offers electric motorcycles and a battery swap station network to power the motorcycle taxi drivers of East Africa. A driver can purchase or lease a motorcycle from Ampersand at a competitive cost with petrol incumbents. Batteries are owned by Ampersand and provided to drivers as a service. Drivers pay for the electricity the same way as petrol – they only pay for what they use. When a new battery is needed, a driver can quickly swap it out for a new one at one of Ampersand’s many conveniently located swap stations, without having to wait for it to charge. 35 motorbikes and batteries have now covered well over 1.3 million km on the streets of Kigali since May 2019. Ampersand has 7200 drivers signed up to our waiting list.

The Environmental Benefits

  • The motorbikes are also fully automatic, easy to ride, have regenerative braking, and even go in reverse
  • The packs are designed specifically to be cost-competitive compared with fuel, with a simple robust design and far higher lifespan than the batteries typically used in other EV
  • The battery fleet and station network is managed across a software platform
  • 75-95% reduction of CO2 emission
  • It brings zero tailpipe emissions to half of vehicles on the road helping to clear the air in Africa's cities

The Financial Benefits

  • Saves East Africa's five million motorbike taxis up to $600 a year, making it possible to double their income
  • Low capex - can make all of East Africa's motorbikes electric by 2030 for under $3Bn in capital - a fraction of the $8Bn+ annual spending on fuel and motorbikes in the region
  • Eliminates fuel imports of 9 billion litres a year by utilising East Africa's costly grid electricity surpluses - a double-win for Governments and taxpayers

Target client profile

Applications

Activity Region

  • Headquarters
  • Activity

Company Profile

Ampersand

Ampersand offers electric motorcycles and a battery swap station network to power the motorcycle taxi drivers of Africa.

Headquarters KK 697 St, Kigali, Rwanda
Type Startup or self-employed
View company profile Solution website

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The information set out above, is solely for the purposes of information and the Solar Impulse Foundation does not provide any guarantee as to its authenticity, completeness or accuracy. This information does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy into, transact or to enter into any agreement with any of the parties or persons mentioned above. Potential investors or interested parties are solely responsible for their investment or business decisions and for performing any due diligence required by the circumstances. The innovator Ampersand has asserted ownership of the intellectual property rights for images, videos, and content showcased above, affirming full and unrestricted usage rights, and has provided explicit permission for the Solar Impulse Foundation to publish such information designated as "public" in the application form.