Arua, Uganda | URN | Limited charging points are frustrating the growing demand for electric motorbikes in Arua and the wider West Nile region, with hundreds of prospective riders waiting to receive their motorcycles.
Since electric motorbike company Spiro introduced its services in West Nile two months ago, demand has surged, with 250 motorcycles already sold and more than 700 approved applications awaiting delivery.
However, the company says it is unable to meet the growing demand because of the limited number of battery swapping points in the region.
Currently, only two three-phase power battery swapping points have been established at Euata and Odianyadri trading centres in Arua District, about six kilometres from Arua City.
Jobenile Watra, the Spiro Electric Motorbikes Uganda West Nile team manager, says the company receives an average of 20 new applications for electric motorcycles every day, but the shortage of charging infrastructure is limiting deliveries.
Watra says the company needs more battery swapping points to ensure riders can access charged batteries and keep their motorcycles operating efficiently. The Spiro electric motorcycle is currently sold at Shs4.5 million in cash or Shs6.8 million on loan.
Under the loan arrangement, clients make an initial deposit of Shs120,000 and subsequently pay Shs9,430 per day for two years. Each battery swap, when the battery is fully charged to 100 points and can provide an estimated 100 kilometres of travel, costs Shs8,400, equivalent to Shs84 per charging point.
Saidi Inzikua Ali, a Boda Boda rider using a Spiro electric motorcycle in Arua City, says the motorcycle is strong, reliable and economical, but the limited charging infrastructure and cost of battery swapping remain major challenges.
Another rider, Hamza Acidri, says the shortage of battery swapping points is making it difficult for riders to fully benefit from the electric motorcycles.
The riders are calling for more battery swapping stations across Arua and other parts of West Nile to make the motorcycles more practical for commercial transport.
The demand for electric motorcycles is expected to remain strong in Uganda and neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
However, the expansion of the electric motorcycle sector will depend largely on the availability of reliable three-phase electricity to support the establishment of more battery charging and swapping points.
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