Kenya’s ARC Ride Bags $10M to Scale Battery-Swapping for E-Motorcycles

Key Takeaways

ARC Ride’s $10 million financing reflects growing investor interest in Africa’s electric mobility sector as governments and businesses seek low-carbon transport solutions. Motorcycles play a central role in urban and peri-urban mobility across Africa, but their reliance on fossil fuels increases costs and emissions. Battery-swapping networks lower barriers to adoption by tackling two key hurdles: high upfront costs of e-motorcycles and the lack of charging infrastructure. By using a BaaS model, ARC enables riders to pay for energy as needed while extending the lifespan of batteries through centralized charging. For Mirova, the deal aligns with its climate-focused strategy and demonstrates how blended finance can help de-risk early-stage investments in emerging markets. If successful, ARC’s model could be replicated across other African countries, positioning battery-swapping as a cornerstone of the continent’s clean transport transition and offering a scalable path to reducing emissions while boosting livelihoods for riders.