Electric motorcycle riders in Nairobi are set to benefit from round-the-clock access to fully charged batteries after electric mobility company Spiro unveiled what it says is Kenya's largest battery swap station in Westlands.
The new Mega Battery Swap Station, located at Bishan Plaza, is designed to support the country's rapidly growing electric motorcycle industry, with the capacity to house and charge more than 200 batteries at the same time.
The facility will operate 24 hours a day, allowing riders to swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones at any time, reducing downtime that often eats into daily earnings.
The launch comes as the adoption of electric motorcycles continues to gather pace in Kenya, with operators increasingly turning to battery-swapping technology instead of conventional charging to keep bikes on the road.
Speaking during the launch, Spiro Kenya Country Head Vishal Mittal said the investment was aimed at ensuring riders never have to worry about running out of power while working.
"For riders, reliability is everything. Our Mega Station has been designed to ensure that fully charged batteries are always available, day or night, in one of Nairobi's busiest rider hubs. With ample surplus capacity to support future demand, this investment gives riders peace of mind, minimizes downtime and enables them to focus on earning more and serving their customers without interruption," Mittal stated.
According to the company, the Westlands station has been built with surplus capacity to accommodate the expected rise in demand as more riders switch from petrol-powered motorcycles to electric alternatives.
Beyond ensuring batteries are always available, Spiro says the station has been strategically positioned in one of Nairobi's busiest commercial centres, where thousands of riders operate daily.
The company believes easier access to battery swaps will translate into more trips completed, shorter waiting times and higher incomes for riders who depend on motorcycles for their livelihoods.
Spiro Head of Energy Network Amit Rao described the facility as a key milestone in the company's long-term strategy of building the infrastructure needed to support electric mobility across Kenya.
"The launch of Bishan Mega Station reflects Spiro's global strategy of building robust, high-capacity energy infrastructure that can accelerate the adoption of electric mobility at scale. As one of our fastest-growing markets, Kenya is playing a key role in that vision."
He added that concentrating large battery reserves in strategic locations would improve network resilience while ensuring riders have reliable access to energy around the clock.
"By concentrating significant battery capacity in strategic locations, we can ensure riders have reliable access to energy around the clock, strengthen network resilience, and create the infrastructure foundation needed to support the next phase of growth in electric mobility."
The unveiling comes just weeks after Spiro revealed that commercial motorcycle riders could slash their operating costs by up to 80 per cent by switching from petrol-powered motorcycles to electric bikes.
In its inaugural Sustainability Report released on July 22, the company said riders using its electric motorcycles were already reducing their operating expenses by between 70 and 80 per cent, while also spending significantly less on maintenance than those operating conventional fuel-powered motorcycles.
Spiro said the lower running costs were expected to encourage more commercial riders across Africa to embrace electric motorcycles as they seek cheaper transport options amid fluctuating fuel prices.
Beyond reducing operating expenses, the company said its expanding electric mobility ecosystem is projected to help avoid about 700,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually by 2030. Spiro is also targeting net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2040 as part of its long-term sustainability goals.
The company added that its battery-swapping network has already enabled more than 200 million kilometres of low-carbon travel in Kenya, with the new Westlands mega station expected to play a key role in accelerating the country's transition to cleaner and more sustainable transport.
