Roam unveils Africa’s first multi-purpose electric motorcycle charging station

Roam, a Kenyan company that produces and sells electric motorcycles, has today announced the launch of Africa’s first Roam Hub, a multi-purpose electric motorcycle charging station.

The Roam Hub is designed to provide a range of services to electric motorcycle users, especially boda-boda operators, who are the mainstay of the motorcycle taxi industry in Kenya. The station offers public access to battery charging and battery rental services, as well as spare parts, maintenance, repair, and software updates for the Roam Air, the company’s flagship electric motorcycle model.

The Roam Hub is located at three strategic locations in busy urban areas: Total Energies Lusaka Road (the flagship location), Waiyaki Way, and Ngong Road. The company plans to expand its network of service stations across the country in the near future.

The launch of the Roam Hub is part of Roam’s vision to decarbonise Kenya’s boda-boda sector and offer a sustainable and affordable transportation solution to its customers. The company claims that the Roam Air can save up to 80% on fuel and maintenance costs compared to conventional motorcycles, as well as reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%.

“At Roam, we believe that simplifying the charging experience is essential to electric motorcycle adoption and customer satisfaction,” said Habib Lukaya, Energy & Charging Product Manager. “With these three initial service stations, we believe that the Roam Hub will play a key role in providing sustainable transportation solutions for the people of Kenya. We are confident that this hassle-free charging experience is what will eventually turn the boda-boda industry electric.”

Romain Petiteau, Head of Energy & Charging, added: “This is a landmark moment. The launch of the Roam Hub demonstrates our ability to advance our sustainability and electrification goals through a versatile set of charging solutions and technology offerings. With our industry-leading electrification ambitions, we can change the future of electric motorcycles in Kenya.”

The Roam Air, introduced in 2022, is an electric motorcycle capable of covering distances of up to 180 km on a single charge and achieving speeds of up to 90 km/h.

The Roam Hub charging stations come equipped with rapid chargers that can fully charge the Roam Air in under an hour. Additionally, these stations utilize solar energy as part of their power source and feature an interoperability function, enabling them to service other electric vehicles from Roam’s partners at the same locations.