Kenyan E-Bike RidersDemand Interoperable Battery Swap Networks (ENEV, AMP)

Kenyan e-mobility riders are pressuring for standardized, interoperable battery swap networks, citing stranded vehicles and lost earnings from inaccessible stations. Nairobi and Mombasa saw November protests as riders demanded open access and expanded hubs. Spiro, Africa’s largest e-bike operator with 60,000 vehicles and 1,200 swap stations, faces calls to lift proprietary constraints. Ampersand announced in January plans to extend its first continent-wide open platform to compatible manufacturers in Kenya and Rwanda. Industry leaders note high integration and safety costs, but interoperability is seen as key to scaling the $207 million East Africa e-mobility investment and reducing daily operating costs by up to 40% for riders.