Taxi-Moto Riders Complain About Faulty Batteries at Swap Stations

The Growing Concern of Aging Batteries in Rwanda’s Electric Motorcycle Industry

Electric motorcycles have become a popular choice for commercial riders in Rwanda, offering lower operating costs and environmental benefits. However, the industry is facing a growing challenge: aging batteries that are often mixed with new ones at swap stations, leading to financial losses and operational difficulties for riders.

Many commercial riders rely on battery swap stations, where depleted batteries are exchanged for charged ones expected to cover a set distance. However, riders have reported issues with faulty batteries that fail before reaching their expected range, leaving them stranded. This problem is particularly prevalent in rural areas, where support from e-mobility companies is limited.

A Frustrating Experience in Rulindo District

Motorcyclist Gasore Gilbert Kamanzi shared a frustrating incident in July when his bike’s battery shut down during a trip in Rulindo District. “It was around 7pm in a forest area. I had left Kigali with a fully charged battery for a planned 46-kilometre trip. The battery, which is supposed to last up to 72 kilometres, suddenly shut down. I had to find a way to return to the city for another battery,” he said.

In Kigali, e-mobility companies can send a pickup to assist riders with battery issues. However, in the countryside, batteries often shut down before reaching the expected distance or fail to climb steep roads, leaving riders stranded unless they find their own transport.

The Transition to Electric Motorcycles

Estache Niyonambaje, a commercial rider in Kigali since 2018, was among the first to switch to electric motorcycles after a colleague’s advice. During a pilot project, his three-year-old petrol bike was converted free of charge. “I even got my old engine back and sold it for Rwf70,000,” he recalled.

Niyonambaje initially enjoyed the benefits of electric bikes, including lower operating costs, no need for engine oil, and cheaper charging compared to petrol. However, the excitement is now fading as he faces challenges with battery reliability.

“Sometimes I go to a charging station and collect a fully charged battery that is supposed to last 50 kilometres, but it runs out in less than 10 kilometres,” he said. “There is a need to address challenges with ageing batteries, which are no longer reliable,” he added.

Companies’ Responses to the Issue

Donald Kabanda, CEO of Rwanda Electric Mobility (REM) Ltd, acknowledged the problem but stated that measures are in place to address it. “The overaged batteries are removed from circulation. We categorise batteries by age, with newer ones priced differently. Those that show poor performance are collected and no longer distributed,” Kabanda explained.

Since 2020, the company has collected around 300 batteries, which it plans to send to recycling companies. “We are working on a partnership with a recycler to handle them,” he said. He added that a battery usually becomes overaged after about four years.

Ampersand, another e-mobility company, said it has not received similar complaints but has systems in place to detect and respond to problems. “We have a very strong system to track battery performance, and we also collect weekly customer feedback, which allows clients to report any issue,” an official told The New Times.

Environmental Considerations

The Ministry of Infrastructure indicates that used batteries will not pose environmental harm as they will be recycled. By January this year, there were about 6,000 electric motorbikes out of the 100,000 motorcycles in the country.