Electric motorcycles gain traction in Benin

In Benin’s capital city, Cotonou, motorcycle taxi drivers are switching to electric vehicles to reduce air pollution and promote sustainable green urban transport.

In Africa, motorcycles are largely the vehicle of choice as they’re quick, convenient, and cheap.

More than 250,000 motorcycle taxi drivers reside in Benin’s capital city of Cotonou and this number is rising as more young people move in for employment purposes.

Due to low employment opportunities, many of these young people have taken up more informal jobs such as taxi drivers. While income and career opportunities are a huge positive, much of this growth comes at the detriment of the Cotonou’s emission levels.

What is M Auto and how could it help Benin become more sustainable?

The largest electric vehicle startup in Africa, M Auto, is hoping to curb some of the environmental impact of Cotonou’s motorcycles by creating new e-bikes with zero gas emissions.

The company recently expanded into Benin and Togo and has already begun preparing to manufacture a unique set of e-bikes specifically catering to the African market.

Costs are being considered too, as M Auto intends to introduce flexible payment schemes that will help more Gen Zers get on board.

Through this initiative taxi drivers could save more on maintenance and help lower Africa’s overall net carbon emission levels.

Currently, the company is partnering with the African Transformation and Industrialization Fund (ATIF) to invest in the manufacturing of electric motorcycles to meet the high number of projected drivers across the two nations and beyond.