Rwanda Head, Arun Bhandari featured in Igihe.rw
Can you share the story behind the founding of your electric motorcycle company (Spiro) and how you got in Rwanda?
Spiro was founded with a vision to address the climate emergency, enhance public health, and stimulate economic growth in Africa. We identified a pressing need for sustainable and affordable transportation solutions in the region, which led us to focus on electric motorcycles. Our entry into Rwanda was strategic as the country has shown a strong commitment to green growth and digital transformation, making it an ideal environment to grow our e-mobility solutions.
What inspired you to get involved in the electric motorcycle industry?
The realization of the tremendous potential for e-mobility in Africa, specifically the opportunity to contribute significantly to environmental conservation and socio-economic development, inspired our venture into the electric motorcycle industry.
What unique features or innovations does your company bring to the electric motorcycle market?
Our unique battery swapping model sets us apart. We've established 30 active swap stations across our operational regions of Rwanda in our first 2 months, which allows our riders to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones quickly, thus eliminating long charging times. Additionally, we're committed to gender inclusivity in our workforce, creating equal opportunities for all.
What sets your electric motorcycles apart from the competition, both in terms of performance and design?
Our motorcycles are designed to offer high performance, durability, and comfort. They're built to handle local terrains and climates effectively. Their sleek design, paired with high functionality, ensures a superior riding experience, and their ease of maintenance gives them a competitive edge. But importantly, we are investing in facilities to ensure that our electric motorbikes and batteries are assembled locally, providing jobs and prosperity in Rwanda.
Can you provide information on the charging time and speed of your electric motorcycles?
Our unique battery swapping model essentially reduces the charging time for our users to near zero. It’s like an F1 pit stop! However, the actual charging of the batteries, done at our swap stations, takes approximately 2 to 3 hours. Charging batteries professionally is cost effective, reduces the strain on the national electricity grid because we can spread out our timings, and also much safer than charging batteries at home. We have the technology to control the speed of bikes and comply with the speed limitations of the country
How has the Rwandan market responded to the adoption of your electric motorcycles?
The Rwandan market has responded positively to our electric motorcycles. Their appreciation for environmentally-friendly, affordable, and efficient transportation solutions has aided our success in the region. Motorbike Taxi Drivers tell us that they’re seeing an instant increase in profits, because running an electric motorbike is cheaper than an old-fashioned ICE bike. Some MBTs have told us our profits have risen from $6 a day to $11 or more. Added to that, our services often include insurance, mobile phone contracts, and other benefits included in the payment. So it’s good for economy, health and also the climate. No wonder people like us!
Are there any government incentives or policies in Rwanda that support the growth of electric mobility, and how has your company benefited from them?
The Rwandan government has shown a strong commitment to green growth and digital transformation, both for us and for the market more generally. Various incentives and policies support the growth of electric mobility, and we have found these immensely supportive in establishing and growing our operations in the country.
What steps is your company taking to ensure that electric motorcycles are affordable and accessible to various segments of the Rwandan population?
We work closely with financial institutions to provide financing options that make our electric motorcycles affordable for various segments of the population. For MBTs, we can often swap ICE bikes for new Spiro Electric Motorbikes as part of our deals for taxi riders. Additionally, we continue to invest in infrastructure like swap stations to ensure accessibility, and we’ve just signed an agreement with Bboxx to improve financial options for our riders.
How do you envision the future of electric mobility in Rwanda, and what role does your company play in shaping that vision?
We envision a future where e-mobility is the norm rather than the exception in Rwanda. Spiro, as a pioneer, aims to lead this transition by continually innovating and expanding our offerings, contributing to the national vision of a green and digital Rwanda. As the largest player in the market, we will continue to develop our products and network to ensure electric motorbikes are the cleanest, safest and cheapest way to get around town.
What advantages do electric motorcycles offer over traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles, and how are they contributing to sustainability and environmental efforts in Rwanda?
Electric motorcycles are cleaner, cheaper to run, and maintain than their gasoline counterparts. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they play a vital role in combating climate change. They also help in decreasing noise and air pollution, contributing to healthier, more livable cities. Plus, they’re safer in traffic as you can hear the traffic around you, and the low centre of gravity because of the placement of the batteries keeps them more stable.
How do you see the future of electric motorcycles evolving in the next 5-10 years?
I foresee significant growth in e-mobility across Africa. As infrastructure improves and awareness grows, electric motorcycles will become an increasingly prevalent form of transportation. Technologies will continue to evolve, improving performance, range, and affordability. More and more governments are moving away from fossil fuel subsidies and so the inevitable future is a world with electric powered motorbikes, not diesel ones, within the next few years.
What steps are being taken to improve the charging infrastructure for electric motorcycles?
We are continuously investing in expanding our network of battery swap stations. This not only improves the charging infrastructure but also increases the convenience for our customers by reducing charging time and extending the effective range of our electric motorcycles. Just now we have 30 live swap stations, more than any other provider by the way, and have 20 more already being built. Plus out partnership with Bboxx will extend our network as we add swap stations to some of their premises. The numbers will continue to grow significantly over the next few months.
Can you share any upcoming projects or developments that your company is currently working on in the electric motorcycle space?
While I can't disclose specifics at this moment, I can say that we have exciting plans for expanding our fleet of electric motorbikes and our network of swap stations. Additionally, we're continuously exploring strategic partnerships to enhance our offerings and reach. Stay tuned for some significant announcements!