Two-wheelers are sought after in many sub-Saharan African cities. The vehicles often charge less than cars for a ride. In Cotonou, Benin’s capital, there are more than 250,000 motorcycle taxi drivers, known as zemidjan. However, because of the difficulties these taxi drivers have in maintaining their gasoline-powered motorcycles, many are now switching to electric two-wheelers.
“The motorcycles that you see have no chain, no belt, no piston. So considering all the expenses we used to make for the other motorcycles, things are slightly different with this one”, Hervé Houton, a motorcycle taxi driver explains.
M auto is based in Togo and Benin. The company wants to revolutionize the urban transport sector with its electric vehicles. Especially in a context where Africa is grappling with the effects of the climate crisis, even though the continent is not one of the main polluters.
Joining the electric revolution is therefore a way of contributing to climate action. The representative of the majority shareholder of the company M auto strongly believes it: “Everyone talks about green transition. We wanted to provide a solution that would be economical and yet also meet ecological needs”, Shegun Adjadi Bakari says.