Inadequate battery swapping points frustrating demand for electric motorbikes in West Nile

What the report says

Limited battery-swapping and charging infrastructure is slowing the rollout of electric motorcycles in Arua and the wider West Nile region, according to The Independent Uganda. The report says demand has climbed sharply since Spiro introduced its electric motorbike service in the area about two months ago, with 250 bikes already sold and more than 700 approved applications still waiting for delivery.

The company is operating only two three-phase battery swapping points in Euata and Odianyadri trading centres in Arua District, about six kilometres from Arua City. Spiro’s West Nile team manager, Jobenile Watra, said the firm is receiving about 20 new applications a day, but deliveries are being constrained by the lack of infrastructure needed to keep batteries charged and motorcycles on the road.

The article says the motorcycles are sold for Shs4.5 million cash or Shs6.8 million on loan, with buyers making a Shs120,000 deposit and then paying Shs9,430 daily for two years under the loan plan. Each battery swap costs Shs8,400. Riders quoted in the report said the bikes are reliable and economical, but the limited number of swapping stations is making them harder to use for commercial transport.

More broadly, the report says growth in Uganda’s electric motorcycle market will depend on reliable three-phase power and a wider network of battery-swapping points, with potential demand also expected from nearby markets such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.