SUN Mobility has launched an open-architecture battery swapping network in Kenya, in partnership with Vivo Energy, positioning the country as the launch market for its expansion across Africa.
The network has 35 stations live in Nairobi and Mombasa, serving electric motorcycles, scooters, tuk-tuks and cargo three-wheelers from multiple manufacturers.
Unlike closed systems tied to a single brand, the platform allows different vehicle makers to plug into shared infrastructure, cutting the cost of building proprietary swapping networks.
SUN Mobility says the model cuts running costs by 20 percent compared with petrol vehicles for riders covering 100 km a day, rising to 35 percent savings at 150 km daily, as fuel prices continue to climb across the region.
The company has already proven the model in India, where it runs more than 2,000 stations across 25 cities, powering over 125,000 vehicles in partnership with more than 30 manufacturers.
“By building an open architecture battery swapping ecosystem for multiple vehicle manufacturers and vehicle formats, we are giving riders greater choice, fleet operators more flexibility and financiers greater confidence that the vehicles they finance will remain supported by a reliable, independently operated battery-swapping network,” said Ajay Goel, SUN Mobility’s Co-Founder and CEO International Business.
He said Kenya marks the start of a longer-term plan to build the continent’s largest universal battery swapping network.
The platform, developed over nine years and backed by more than 450 patents, combines swappable Smart Batteries, thermally controlled Quick Interchange Stations, and a cloud-based Smart Network that tracks assets and manages maintenance.
More than 10 vehicle manufacturers showcased compatible models at the Kenya launch, among them Afrina Neopower, BGauss, Fika Mobility, Motovolt, Odysse, Piaggio, QJ-YY, Sprocomm, VMoto and Wylex. The firms are set to roll out vehicles in Kenya in the coming weeks.
The partnership with Vivo Energy will extend the network to more than 4,200 Shell and Engen-branded fuel stations in 29 African countries.
“SUN Mobility’s model aligns closely with our Shell service station network,” said Hans Paulsen, EVP East & South – Africa at Vivo Energy. “By deploying this technology at locations where riders already stop every day, we can make the transition to electric mobility more accessible, convenient and scalable across Africa.”
SUN Mobility plans to deploy more than 160,000 vehicles powered by 2,500 stations across Africa within five years.
The company was founded by SUN Group and Maini Group in 2017 and is backed by Bosch, Vitol, Indian Oil and Helios Climate. Through its Indofast Energy joint venture with Indian Oil, it operates over 2,000 stations in India, where its vehicles have completed more than 70 million swaps and covered 2 billion kilometres.
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