NAIROBI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Two Kenyan firms on Tuesday launched electric bicycles to boost green mobility in the country amid negative impacts of climate change.
Jumia, an African online retail store and eBee Africa, a start-up that offers electric bicycles on a subscription basis for the delivery market are partnering in the pilot program to have e-bicycles doing Jumia deliveries and also to save costs for riders and consumers in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
"This pilot with eBee is the beginning of a conscious push across Africa into electric vehicles," Ankur Agarwal, country manager for Jumia services said during the launch of electric bicycles in Nairobi.
Agarwal said that the initiative is expected to play a part in speeding up the penetration of the industry in Africa.
Agarwal noted that the decision to change to e-bicycles is consistent with the firm's effort to be an environmentally conscious organization as well as a win-win for society.
Olivia Lamenya, managing director of eBee Africa said that their goal is to have one million eBees on the road in the Sub-Saharan Africa region by 2030.
Lamenya observed that the organization plans to provide the electric solution to mass transportation in rapidly-growing African cities.
Lamenya added that the move will yield cost reductions, which will eventually flow through into lower delivery fees for consumers, as well as higher incomes for riders. Enditem
