Rwanda-based electric mobility company Ampersand showcased its battery-swapping network for commercial motorcycle riders at the Equity Group Trade and Investment Roadshow in Kigali, highlighting how electric motorcycles can reduce charging downtime and operating costs.
Ampersand manufactures and services electric motorcycles and operates swap stations where riders can exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones in approximately three minutes. The system is designed to allow motorcycle taxi operators to remain on the road without extended charging breaks.
Emmanuel Hakizimana, Ampersand’s Country Manager in Kigali, explained how the battery-swapping model works and how it maintains the speed and convenience riders expect from petrol-powered motorcycles.
“We build the swap station where the drivers actually come to get batteries. They bring the empty, they get fully charged ones. The rider is rushing, so we want to keep the same behavior as when they had petrol motorcycles. We want to keep it very quick, the three minutes, just coming to the charging station and going back to the road,” Mr. Hakizimana said.
Hakizimana said riders can save approximately 50% on their daily trip-related costs when using Ampersand’s battery-powered motorcycles. However, he did not provide a direct cost comparison between petrol and battery power.
“When you look at how much our rider gets on a daily basis on each trip, we are saving them around 50%. The petrol price has raised, it’s very crazy everywhere. So, when you look at how much they are getting from the battery, we are saving them 50%,” he explained.
He added that a litre of petrol in Rwanda covers approximately 40 km, providing context for the operating demands faced by commercial motorcycle riders.
The Ampersand visit was part of a wider programme that exposed investors to businesses operating in Rwanda, including garment manufacturer Dikam Garment Factory and Landy Industries.
At Dikam Garment Factory, Chairperson Kamanzi Gilbert highlighted opportunities for expanding local garment production, noting that Rwanda imports more than 90% of its garments.
“Making garments locally was a very big opportunity because there are many government incentives, including a duty remission on imported raw materials. We started with 10 workers seven years ago, but now we are counting around 400 employees, supporting over 2,000 people,” Mr. Kamanzi said.
Meanwhile, Landy Industries Managing Director Kevin Lio said his company exports half of its production outside Rwanda. He pointed to the country’s proximity to neighboring markets and access to foreign currency through Equity Group as factors supporting its operations.
“The location of Rwanda has its own advantages. We are near the borders of Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and Congo. Sometimes Rwanda lacks dollars, but Equity gives us a good rate and enough USD, which is very nice for exporters,” Mr. Lio explained.
Mahvish Malik, Equity Group Associate Director of Trade Relations, said the roadshows are intended to provide investors with firsthand exposure to the business environment in the countries they visit, alongside engagements with government and private-sector stakeholders.
“Our trade and investment roadshows are organized in a way that really gives our delegates a very strong look and feel of what it’s like to do business in the country that we’re visiting. We also have a strong focus on interactions with the government as well as the private sector associations,” she said.
Furthermore, the Kigali roadshow is scheduled to conclude with a business roundtable expected to attract more than 60 delegates, providing an opportunity for further engagement between investors and businesses operating in Rwanda.
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