The first of its kind for Uber in Africa, the debut of Electric Boda in Kenya marks an important step forward in the development of environmentally friendly transportation across the continent.
With the introduction of electric motorcycles, the country’s transition to a greener economy now has a dependable, comfortable, and economical means of transportation within cities. Since everyone should be able to go green, using Electric Boda will initially cost 15% to 20% less than using Uber Boda.
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With the introduction of the Electric Boda by Uber, drivers, for whom fuel is one of the biggest expenses, will experience a 30–35% reduction in operating costs. The World Bank estimates that Kenya’s boda boda industry employs over 1.5 million young people and generates Kshs. 202 billion in economic output yearly.
“Now is the time to take solid steps that enhance sustainable practices and as a business, we are committed to being part of the collective efforts to reduce the carbon footprint. Through the launch of Electric Boda on our platform, we are proud to provide an option for emissions-free mobility in Kenya. This launch also supports our global efforts to become a zero-emissions platform by 2040,” according to Frans Hiemstra, Director and Regional General Manager, Uber, Middle East and Africa.
The launch takes place at a time when the government of Kenya is implementing the National Electric Mobility Plan. This plan aims to make Kenya’s transportation system more environmentally friendly and implement a variety of initiatives for the sustainable management of road traffic.
“We are doing our part to aid the transition to eco-friendly mobility products and to support national sustainability objectives. The launch of Electric Boda will provide Kenyans with one of the most affordable ways to move from one place to another, with prices 15-20% below the price of our existing product,” according to Imran Manji, Head of East Africa for Uber.
With ambitions to grow, Uber Electric Boda will first be offered in Nairobi, allowing travelers all around the nation to receive emissions-free rides.
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Uber continues to prioritize safety, and new products released reflect this. The same safety requirements still apply to passengers using Electric Boda, including access to 24-hour emergency response services, audio recording, and RideCheck, which detects unusually long stops along a journey route and confirms with the driver and passenger if all is fine.
