1,000th Electrical Motorbike Offered Through GOGO & Watu Partnership in Uganda

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GOGO, previously referred to as BODAWERK, and its asset financing companion Watu have simply celebrated a key milestone. The 1,000th electrical bike underneath their new partnership has simply been bought in Uganda. GOGO makes a speciality of superior lithium-ion battery know-how for functions throughout its vary of merchandise, together with electrical bikes, agricultural gear, and renewable vitality storage. Watu is an asset financing firm working in monetary inclusion throughout Africa. Watu is constructing an ecosystem for unbanked and underserved people by offering entry to mobility and connectivity instruments that improve digital literacy, financial progress, high quality of life, and alternative. Watu says the corporate’s work has supplied over 1 million loans throughout 7 international locations up to now and has positively impacted the lives of greater than 4 million individuals.

These sorts of partnerships between electrical bike corporations and financing companions are actually crucial within the quest to speed up the adoption of electrical mobility in sectors such because the bike taxi trade on the African continent. The progress made up to now within the first 8 months of this partnership is basically encouraging. The collaboration between GOGO and Watu in Uganda is a robust instance of the potential throughout the African EV market. It demonstrates how progressive, regionally tailor-made options, supported by accessible financing, can drive vital financial and environmental progress.

Riders utilizing lithium-ion batteries of their electrical boda bodas save roughly 30% in comparison with gasoline prices. Beforehand incomes between 30K and 40K UGX per day, riders can now make 70K to 90K UGX, thanks to those financial savings. With a swap costing 5,000 UGX in comparison with 15,000 UGX for gasoline, riders usually want only one swap per day, and at most two, considerably lowering their operational prices.

A key service enabling this ecosystem is in fact GOGO’s battery swap community which helps riders to conveniently recharge by swapping batteries, thereby enhancing the practicality of electrical automobiles. GOGO says since its institution in 2019, the corporate has been on the forefront of sustainable transportation options in East Africa. Recognizing the crucial function of the boda boda sector in Ugandan transportation, GOGO has been devoted to constructing reasonably priced, environment friendly, and environmentally pleasant electrical two-wheelers particularly tailor-made to the distinctive wants of Ugandan riders.

“Our journey started with the understanding that the profitable transition to EVs in Uganda required addressing the precise challenges of the boda boda market,” says Jakob Hornbach, CEO of GOGO, beforehand referred to as Bodawerk LTD. “We targeted on creating sturdy, long-range bikes with swappable batteries to eradicate considerations about vary nervousness and charging time. Complementing this, we’ve got considerably expanded our community of battery swap stations, now exceeding 66 areas throughout main cities, together with Kampala, Jinja, Iganga, Luwero, and Mukono. This growth is pivotal in guaranteeing our riders can simply maintain their bikes operational for lengthy hours.”

Listed here are among the key spec of GOGO’S EV150 electrical bike:

• Battery Pack: 4kWh (NMC)
• Motor Energy: 2000 kW
• Vary: 120km

GOGO says this mannequin is thought for its 120 km vary on a single cost, which is a power in comparison with different EV bike producers in East Africa, ideally suited to navigating the bustling streets of Kampala, Uganda. The swappable battery system permits riders to change depleted batteries for totally charged ones in underneath two minutes, guaranteeing minimal downtime and enhanced productiveness.

Watu’s progressive financing options have made electrical boda bodas accessible to a broader vary of riders by providing versatile fee plans, usually with down funds under $100. This monetary mannequin, mixed with the decrease working prices of EVs, has empowered many Ugandan riders to enhance their livelihoods whereas contributing to a cleaner setting. Watu says its work extends past Uganda. Its dedication to monetary inclusion and neighborhood empowerment has led to the availability of over 600,000 loans for two- and three-wheelers throughout Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, impacting over 3.6 million individuals. This method has fueled the expansion of the boda boda sector in Uganda and fostered financial growth throughout the continent. GOGO and Watu have now dedicated to additional increasing their attain, introducing new electrical car fashions, and exploring partnerships to advance their mission of sustainable transportation. Their ambition extends past Uganda, aiming to copy this success in different markets throughout Africa.

Photos courtesy of GOGO