Arusha, 20th March 2025 – As motorcycles continue to be the backbone of transport systems in many East African countries, serving as taxis, delivery vehicles and personal transport, a shift towards battery powered, electric bikes and tricycles remains a huge anticipation for locals in the cities of Tanzania.
In recent months, Bolt Tanzania partnered with Green Wheels Tanzania to pioneer the integration of electric motorcycles (EV bikes) into the country’s ride-hailing sector, marking a major shift towards sustainable mobility.
This initiative is designed to encourage sustainability and create an additional ride option that resonates with the city's international community and tourists. More importantly, this initiative reduces costs for drivers and increases their earnings. With rising fuel prices, EV bikes provide a cost-effective alternative, significantly lowering daily operational expenses for ride-hailing drivers. This means higher earnings and improved financial stability for thousands of riders.
For other businesses, the adoption of electric transport aligns with their corporate sustainability goals. As the leading ride-hailing company in the country, Bolt sees itself setting a precedent for competitors and endorsing the culture of EV mobility, which is already thriving in the western world.
Beyond economic benefits, Green Wheels Tanzania guarantees that this shift contributes to Tanzania’s environmental sustainability goals. “Our Electric Motorcycles reduce around 8.3KG of local CO2e pollution per 100km compared to the petrol bikes. The 1.4 million registered petrol motorcycles in the country emit substantial amounts of particulate matter and black carbon, making them a leading contributor to air pollution. Two-stroke scooters are especially harmful, emitting more particle emissions than cars”, according to the company’s website greenwheels.tz.
Speaking on the partnership, Dimmy Kanyankole, General Manager for Bolt Tanzania and Kenya, stated: “This collaboration represents a bold step towards changing the experience of ride-hailing. By introducing EV bikes in Arusha, we are making transport more cost-efficient for drivers and comfortable.”
While the public continues to adapt electric mobility into their day-to-day lives, Tanzania continues to face challenges that slow down the opportunity of EV vehicles to thrive throughout the country. According to the E-mobility Alliance Report of 2024, challenges include high import taxes, unclear registration processes, and limited financing options to grow and maintain EV vehicles. Despite these, Tanzania remains among the top African countries with 5000 electric vehicles operating in the country.
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