Kenyan electric mobility company Roam on Monday announced its plans to launch 10 additional solar-powered hubs in Nairobi to enhance the city’s electric mobility infrastructure.
ENERGICA, a project under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, is funding this program. In Nairobi’s crowded urban setting, the project aims to greatly increase the uptake of economical and environmentally friendly transit options for electric motorbike users.
The new Roam Hubs will offer affordable battery rentals, efficient charging, and fast after-sales service. Each hub aims to handle 400–500 battery charging and rental transactions daily. With this project, electric mobility will become more accessible, and Nairobi’s urban transport system will be greener and more efficient.
Roam: Driving Africa’s electric future
Since its founding, Roam has led Kenya’s electric mobility revolution, developing vehicles for the African market. The company’s creative strategy uses local resources and manufacturing.
Roam’s CEO, Filip Lövström, stated, “This project not only supports our commitment to sustainability but also aims to create jobs and enhance local economies through green technology.”
Solar charging at Roam Hubs will make services cheaper by KSh 10-15 per kWh compared to traditional electricity. Cost-effectiveness is predicted to boost electric motorcycle usage and reduce urban pollution.
Roam emphasised the alignment of the ENERGICA project with its broader mission of advancing low-emission transport solutions. “The ENERGICA project aligns seamlessly with Roam’s mission to provide innovative, low-emission transport solutions,” the statement read.
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Collaboration with European partners
The European Union’s support shows how important it is for countries to work together to fight climate change. The partnership aims to use Europe’s knowledge of renewable energy and environmentally friendly travel, creating a space for sharing information and improving technology. Thanks to this partnership, Kenya is expected to become a leader in electric travel in Africa.
In addition to enhancing charging infrastructure, the solar-powered hubs will also serve educational purposes, raising awareness among local communities about the benefits of electric vehicles and renewable energy. This initiative reflects a broader trend towards integrating sustainability into urban planning and transportation systems.
Roam’s recent 6,000-kilometer solar-powered journey from Nairobi to Stellenbosch, South Africa, shows its inventiveness. This expedition showed that sustainable energy can power long-distance travel across different African environments.
Roam’s expansion into these solar-powered hubs represents a turning point in Kenya’s sustainable mobility revolution. The project intends to minimise fossil fuel use and motivate other African nations to use innovative transport solutions to tackle climate change.