Rwanda has announced plans to phase out electric motorcycles in the capital, Kigali, as part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability and achieve its E-mobility plan.
Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore announced on January 7 that the project will begin this year.
While speaking to members of parliament, Gasore stressed that the long-term benefits of the change outweigh the short-term challenges, especially for transportation and passengers.
“This is an important step towards clean and sustainable transportation in Kigali and across the country,” Gasore said.
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Responding to lawmakers’ concerns about motorcyclists’ livelihoods, Gasore explained that the change would only apply to new motorcycles entering the market. To encourage electric scooters, the government plans to set up a network of battery charging stations across Kigali.
The infrastructure development will make integrating electric scooters into the city’s transportation system easier. Gasore explained that the move is in line with Rwanda’s broader strategy to combat air pollution, with statistics showing that motorcycles are responsible for 50% of air pollution in Kigali.
The minister noted that the shift to electric scooters would improve the health of major cities. “The switch to electric bikes is an important step in reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment,” Gasol said.
The initiative builds on Rwanda’s partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which began replacing gas-powered bikes with electric models in 2021.
Rwanda has more than 100,000 motorcycles, 46,000 of which are used to transport people and goods. Of these, 26,000 operate in Kigali. Although electric motorcycles only make up a small portion of the total, their numbers are increasing.
