This strategic expansion enables the company to meet the rapidly increasing demand for electric motorcycles in the country, where over 1,100 Ampersand e-motos are already in operation.

The new factory spans 21,000 square metres, making it over three times larger than the previous 6,500 square metre site.

This significant upgrade, coupled with the deployment of over 100 staff, will allow Ampersand to assemble up to 60 electric motorcycles per day, or 1,440 per month, as well as to continue delivering the most trusted battery swap network for Kenya’s millions of commercial motorcycle riders.

Ampersand’s sustainable EV solutions cut carbon emissions and offer significant savings to riders. Every Ampersand e-moto avoids at least 2 mt CO2e per bike per year and, on average, increases customer income by 45% annually, a vital benefit for Kenyan riders, who each support an average of 3.8 people at home. 

The enhanced Kenyan operation, combined with Ampersand’s successful model in Rwanda where it has spearheaded the adoption of electric motorcycles, lays a strong foundation for its continued expansion across East Africa. 

Currently, Ampersand’s fleet of heavy-duty commercial e-motos and smart, AI-optimised battery fleet covers over 4.5 million kilometres per week in Kigali and Nairobi combined. 

This latest scaling positions the company to meet the growing demand for electric motorcycles, not just in Kenya but across East Africa, where 100 million people depend largely on petrol motorcycles for taxi or delivery services. Ampersand aims to deploy 5 million electric motorcycles by 2033.

Josh Whale, CEO, Ampersand, said: “Our new Nairobi factory is a major step forward in both scale and impact. It reflects our dedication to providing sustainable, affordable EV solutions that directly benefit riders and the environment. With this expanded capacity, we’re in a stronger position to support the electrification of Africa’s commercial motorcycle transport and to scale Ampersand’s proven business model.”

Amperstand’s approach to electrifying Africa’s millions of motorcycles have gained the interest of several investors including AHL Venture Partners, an Africa-focused venture fund, and Everstrong Capital, an infrastructure investor constructing the Usahihi toll road between Nairobi and Mombasa, who participated in this round. 

Beyond Capital Ventures has also reinvested in a follow-up to its Series A equity commitment.

These additional investments, ahead of Ampersand’s Series B, will enable the company to continue its expansion in East Africa where 100 million people a day use motorcycle taxi or delivery services, called ‘boda bodas’. 

The company’s electric motorcycles are 45% cheaper to run than the petrol alternatives and produce at least 75% less emissions, making them a compelling alternative.

Josh Whale, CEO, Ampersand, said: “This latest funding is a testament to the strong investor confidence in our business model as we continue to scale and innovate within the African e-mobility sector. With continued urbanisation, our mission to electrify transport, cut carbon emissions and drive clean economic prosperity is more crucial than ever.

“This additional investment will accelerate the rollout of our EV energy technology and infrastructure to the mass market, bringing us closer to our goal of deploying 5 million electric motorcycles by 2033.

“As we look ahead to our upcoming Series B, we remain committed to reshaping how Africa moves by delivering affordable, low-carbon transport solutions that also drive green jobs and economic growth across the continent.”

Ampersand’s heavy duty commercial motorcycle fleet already covers 3,000,000 km per week in Kigali and Nairobi. Its AI-enabled smart battery technology allows drivers to seamlessly exchange their batteries within minutes at its network of ‘swap stations’, handling around 75,000 swaps every week.

Sebastian McKinlay, head of New Investments, AHL Venture Partners, commented: “Ampersand’s performance shows the transformative power of innovative business models in addressing environmental challenges and economic opportunities simultaneously – a perfect example of the ‘green discount’ of transitioning to a low carbon economy whilst saving customers money.

“Ampersand’s work in electrifying one of the most common forms of transportation in East Africa is proving to be a game-changer and will displace billions of dollars of fuel imports to East Africa each year.  We are pleased to be supporting Josh, Alp and the whole team who have executed their strategy admirably, and thrilled to support Ampersand’s journey to expand their operations and continue to lead the way in sustainable transportation.”

Eva Yazhari, managing partner, Beyond Capital Ventures, said: “Ampersand’s comprehensive approach to e-mobility in Africa exemplifies exactly the type of highly scalable solution Beyond Capital Ventures seeks to invest in. Among the e-mobility companies we evaluated, Ampersand stood out for its robust technology, strong market traction, and clear vision for transforming transportation networks across the continent. 

“We view Ampersand as a climate and infrastructure play and by backing Ampersand, BCV’s primary goal is to contribute to increased economic development and the growth of capital markets in the region.

“This investment has the potential to deliver substantial environmental benefits, improve livelihoods for thousands of drivers, and demonstrate the incredible opportunity to invest in ventures led by conscious leaders in emerging markets. In addition to being a strong portfolio contributor, I believe that Ampersand’s success will attract further investment to Africa, something we care deeply about at BCV.”

Phil Dyk, founder and managing partner, Everstrong Capital, said: “We chose to be part of Ampersand’s growth capital because we found that commercial boda boda riders wanted Ampersand’s bikes for their strength, design and battery swapping convenience — not to mention that Ampersand is an early entrant to the electric motorcycle markets in Rwanda and Kenya.”

Capital raised from the Series A round has been used to ramp up electric motorcycle and battery production, expand the company’s swap station network, and continue R&D on battery technology and software. This latest funding round brings the total raised over the last 12 months to $14 million in equity and $7.5 million in debt.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the decarbonisation of Africa’s commercial motorbike transport system.

As its primary hardware supplier, Ampersand will purchase BYD’s high-tech battery cells to build around 40,000 electric motorcycles by the end of 2026, with the long-term goal of electrifying a large portion of Africa’s 30 million commercial motorbikes. 

The partnership with BYD will enable Ampersand to rapidly scale its electric fleet and its charging infrastructure, which is already the largest in Rwanda and Kenya. This continued scaling will allow Ampersand to meet the increasing demand for commercial motorcycles across Africa as its cities expand and riders increase, providing a sustainable solution to support the continent’s economic growth. 

Josh Whale, CEO of Ampersand, said: “This partnership marks a major milestone for Ampersand as we continue to lead the charge in providing sustainable, cost-effective, mass-market EV solutions. 

“BYD’s world-leading battery cells and manufacturing scale, combined with Ampersand’s deep customer insight and technical product knowledge will help fast-track the electrification of Africa’s commercial motorcycles.

“Switching the millions of taxi and delivery two-wheelers to EV energy tech represents one of the world’s best value-for-money decarbonisation opportunities. At the same time, this transformation will save millions of hardworking motorcycle riders six hundred dollars each a year, driving clean economic prosperity.”

BYD’s cutting-edge lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells have a long lifespan, an excellent safety record and are affordable for everyday users, making them ideal for mass-market electrification. 

Sihai Zhang, BYD Company, said: “Ampersand’s electric motorbike technology and charging network, along with its excellent customer understanding, make the company stand out to BYD as the clear pioneer in the electrification of Africa’s transport system. 

“Electrifying the intensively used commercial motorcycles found across Africa is a logical first step to decarbonising a very large potential market of motorcycles across the Global South.” 

At the same time as decarbonising transport, electric two-wheelers clean up the air and save drivers on average 45% a year on fuel and maintenance, improving lives and livelihoods – driving entrepreneurship and social mobility.

Through this partnership, new and existing drivers will have the opportunity to lease ROAM and Ampersand electric motorbikes at a discounted price in comparison to the current market rates.

This strategic move marks a significant step in Bolt’s commitment to enhance driver earnings through the reduction of operational costs in the market, as well as move towards eco-friendly urban mobility, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

The 5,000 electric motorcycle rollout aligns with the recent launch of Kenya’s National E-mobility Policy, aimed at promoting local production and assembly of EVs.

With zero tailpipe emissions and lower maintenance requirements compared to traditional vehicles, these electric bikes offer a cost-effective alternative for drivers, enabling them to maximise their earnings while minimising expenses.

M-KOPA is Kenya’s largest financier of electric motorbikes having already financed approximately two-thirds of the electric bikes on Kenya’s roads.

Through this collaboration, Bolt will leverage M-KOPA’s fintech platform to make electric motorbike ownership affordable, by substantially reducing the expenses associated with electric motorbikes for drivers.

This approach is expected to lead to approximately 40% savings in total ownership costs compared to petrol motorbikes.

By subsidising the cost of the vehicle, Bolt enables drivers to choose an electric motorbike at a price equal to or below that of a comparable petrol alternative.

With reduced energy and maintenance expenditures, drivers can potentially decrease their vehicle operating costs by up to 75%. Riders on the Bolt platform will be able to access an electric bike for as low as KES 10,000- 15,000, through vehicle financing, enabled by the partnership between M-KOPA, ROAM and Ampersand.

Caroline Wanjihia, regional director, RideHailing Operations, Africa & International Markets, said:

“We are excited to introduce our electric bike fleet, in partnership with M-KOPA, as part of our ongoing efforts to support and empower our drivers. This marks a significant milestone in Bolt’s mission to provide sustainable and financially viable transportation solutions in Kenya. By leveraging electric vehicles, we are not only reducing our environmental footprint, but also aim to enhance driver earnings and improve overall economic stability within the communities that we serve. Considering all financial incentives and reduced operating costs, drivers participating in this pilot launch could see significantly increased daily earnings compared to petrol motorcycles. This initiative underscores our commitment to driving positive change and fostering economic empowerment within our driver community.”

David Damberger, managing director – M-KOPA Mobility, added:

“As the leading financier of electric motorbikes in Kenya, we’re committed to redefining mobility in Kenya through affordable financing solutions for electric motorbikes, particularly for the underbanked. Partnering with Bolt represents a significant leap towards this goal, enabling us to broaden our reach and support more customers in transitioning to sustainable transport solutions. Already, we have made substantial inroads since launching our Mobility division in 2022, in collaboration with ROAM and Ampersand. With over 2 million motorbikes navigating Kenya’s roads, now is the time for us to extend our reach, as we set to positively impact the environment significantly by reducing carbon emissions and saving on fuel costs—an essential keystone of Kenya’s sustainable development.”

By combining the power of digital micropayments with IoT technology, M-KOPA offers customers access to a broad range of productive assets, including electric motorcycles, without collateral or a guarantor. For drivers to access the EV bikes, they will need to join the fleet supported by M-KOPA. The drivers will need to operate exclusively on the Bolt platform and then own the bikes after the lease period.

Mikael Gånge, CCO, ROAM said:

“Our at-home and portable charging options, extensive Roam Hub service network, and dual battery system empower delivery riders to increase efficiency without worrying about battery depletion.  Through this strategic partnership with Bolt, we’re not only promoting sustainability but also cutting operational costs remarkably for Boda riders, making a meaningful impact where it matters most, and creating a better future for all.”

Josh Whale, founder & CEO Ampersand E-Mobility Kenya added:

“We thank Bolt and M-KOPA for their enthusiasm and confidence in our market-leading electric vehicles and energy network.  The collaboration between Bolt, M-KOPA and Ampersand is a significant step forward for the ride-hailing and delivery industry in Kenya. Our partnership with Bolt will lead the industry forward by adopting the most commercially scalable structure for E-Mobility and energy providers that we’ve encountered. This saves more money for more motorcycle riders and more end users, and at the same time drives emobility forward at the pace that Kenya’s economy, environment and the continued habitability of our planet all demand: A more scalable, win-win all round.”

Since 2019, Bolt has been mitigating its environmental impact by investing in projects primarily focused on renewable energy and resource conservation.

In 2021, Bolt introduced a new ride category on its platform dubbed Bolt Green which offers eco-friendly rides as the company moves towards reducing its ecological footprint in Nairobi.

The category has hybrid and electric cars to reduce emissions during trips taken on the Bolt platform, thus, offering greener transport options.

This category expanded Bolt’s ride options, creating more economic opportunities for drivers and providing passengers with more options to choose from.

As part of its launch strategy, Bolt will initially deploy the electric bikes in Nairobi, with plans for expansion in the near future. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations with local stakeholders, the company seeks to create a sustainable and inclusive transportation ecosystem that benefits users and the environment.