BYD and EV energy tech company Ampersand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on electric bikes, scaling up production in Africa, aimed at accelerating decarbonisation in the commercial motorbike transport system.
Ampersand shared that it will purchase BYD’s battery cells to build around 40,000 electric motorcycles by the end of 2026.
The partnership with BYD will enable Ampersand to rapidly scale its electric fleet and its charging infrastructure, the company said.
According to the two, the long-term goal is to electrify a large portion of Africa’s 30 million commercial motorbikes.
“This partnership marks a major milestone for Ampersand as we continue to lead the charge in providing sustainable, cost effective, mass-market EV solutions,” said Josh Whale, CEO of Ampersand.
“BYD’s world-leading battery cells and manufacturing scale, combined with Ampersand’s deep customer insight and technical product knowledge will help fast track the electrification of Africa’s commercial motorcycles.
“Switching the millions of taxi and delivery two-wheelers to EV energy tech represents one of the world’s best value-for-money decarbonisation opportunities. At the same time, this transformation will save millions of hardworking motorcycle riders six hundred dollars each a year, driving clean economic prosperity,” added Whale.
Sihai Zhang, BYD Company, said: “Ampersand’s electric motorbike technology and charging network, along with its excellent customer understanding, make the company stand out to BYD as the clear pioneer in the electrification of Africa’s transport system.
“Electrifying the intensively used commercial motorcycles found across Africa is a logical first step to decarbonising a very large potential market of motorcycles across the Global South.”