Roam, an electric mobility startup, has partnered with Ridewell to establish its first showroom in Nairobi, as part of its strategy to boost the sales of electric motorbikes.
- •Roam Air, the company’s electric motorbike, will be exhibited at the new shop located opposite the Safari Park Hotel along Thika Superhighway.
- •The shop will also stock crucial accessories for electric motorbikes such as batteries and unique spare parts, as well as rider’s gear like helmets.
- •The startup closed its Series A round raising $24 million to ramp up the production of electric vehicles in Kenya as demand for climate-friendly transport soars.
“Nairobi is one of Africa’s most important cities and a city with great potential in which electric mobility is becoming increasingly popular. It is a true pleasure to open our flagship store in the city,” said Roam’s operation sales manager Dionne Getata.
The showroom will also offer technical support for interested riders. By opening a physical shop, the company wishes to streamline accessibility and foster credibility. Potential customers can now visit the shop, interact with the startup’s innovators, and even experience what it feels like to ride the electric motorbike.
“This showroom is more than just a retail space,” said Ridewell CEO Talib Nathani. “It is a destination for bodaboda riders to explore, learn, and experience the excitement of electric mobility.”
The Future of E-mobility
Roam has invested in the production of 42-seater electric buses that will facilitate public transport across Nairobi, in order to reduce dependence on fuel-powered vehicles. However, the company has also realized that it needs to exercise more effort in the motorbike industry which millions of residents in Nairobi neighborhoods rely on.
Persisting challenges like the shortage of charging infrastructure have led to the slow adoption of electric motorbikes. Roam created a removable battery that can be easily charged by household plugs. The company also guarantees that the model allows a rider to cover 75 to 100 kms without the risk of depleting its energy.
The Kenyan government reports that in 2024, there will be about three million motorbikes in the country. Decarbonizing the atmosphere will remain difficult if alternatives are not presented to these riders who derive their income from this business.
- •Roam was founded by Albin Wilson, Filip Lövström, and Mikael Gånge in 2017 as an EV conversion company before turning to active assembly of vehicles in 2021.
- •According to Clean Air Fund, fuel-reliant transport contributes about 40% of Nairobi’s air pollution and 20% globally; prompting climate investors to take interest in innovative solutions that abound in the regional startup ecosystem.
- •Kenya is one of the countries that would experience a seamless shift to electric-powered vehicles because 85% of its electricity is renewable.
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