Spiro, Africa’s largest EV player enters Nigeria, continent’s biggest economy

Business a.m. Reporter

With more than 13,000 electric motorbikes already deployed, Spiro, Africa’s largest electric vehicle has made a landmark expansion into Nigeria, marking a pivotal period in the electric mobility landscape of Africa’s largest economy.

The expansion will see Spiro in up to eight of Nigeria’s major towns, beginning with Abeokuta (in Ogun State), and including Ibadan (Oyo State), Lagos, and Abuja (FCT). The company says it indicates a dedicated effort to electrify the nation’s mobility. The initiative is aimed at substantially reducing carbon emissions, while promoting environmental sustainability and enhancing the quality of life for Nigerians, the company said.

Available data says Africa’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation are growing at a rate of 7% each year. Air pollution is the second biggest killer across the continent, associated with heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Around 1.1 million people die prematurely from air pollution in the continent each year.

Spiro says its electric motorbike expansion model is centered on battery swapping, allowing riders to use Spiro’s swapping stations, fast and slow chargers, and home charging solutions. State of Charge (SoC) technology significantly enhances the riding experience, offering a seamless, efficient, and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Strategic partnerships for growing Nigeria’s EV ecosystem

The company’s expansion is further supported by strategic partnerships that have accelerated the growth of its charging network. This network expansion is pivotal in making EVs a viable option for more people, contributing to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development.

In Nigeria, Spiro has announced strategic partnerships with Max, Dot and Onocon, who share its vision for a cleaner and healthier world, where riders have access to affordable and reliable transportation and cutting edge technology.

Max are established pioneers of Electric Vehicles in Nigeria as an eco-friendly and effective means of mobility. Dot is a leading digital microfinance institution in Nigeria, democratizing the ownership of electric bikes in the country. Founded in 2021, Dot has quickly amassed a customer base of over 650,000 by providing comprehensive financial services. The partnership with Onocon Royal Limited signifies Spiro’s approach to penetrate the Nigerian market by leveraging local expertise and networks.

According to the electric motorbike company, its expansion into Nigeria, with strategic partnerships with Max, Dot and Omnocon, marks a new chapter for it and the broader EV ecosystem in Nigeria. It said it will deploy a significant number of bikes in its first year in Nigeria, enabling a lifestyle shift towards cleaner, more sustainable transportation options.

“Our goal is to electrify mobility across Africa, and Nigeria as Africa’s economic powerhouse represents an important step on that journey,” the company said.

Spiro has established a significant presence in key African markets, actively transforming the transportation landscape in Togo, Benin, Kenya, and Rwanda with its eco-friendly electric vehicles (EVs) and pioneering battery swapping technology. It is set to expand its reach further into Uganda and Ghana.

The company said its electric bikes promise a future of reduced environmental impact, economic savings, and improved community health.