Kenya expands electric mobility through battery swapping and EV financing

Kenya is seeing significant advancements in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and financing. SUN Mobility, in partnership with Vivo Energy, has launched an open-architecture battery swapping ecosystem in the country. With 35 stations already operational in Nairobi and Mombasa, the network supports electric motorcycles, scooters, tuk-tuks, and cargo three-wheelers from various manufacturers. This shared infrastructure is designed to accelerate EV adoption by removing the need for manufacturers to develop proprietary swapping systems.

Complementing this infrastructure, NCBA has partnered with electric mobility company BasiGo to finance the deployment of 1,000 electric vans. The partnership targets public transport operators, businesses, and institutions through asset financing and leasing. NCBA is providing financing options of up to 90% of an electric vehicle’s asset value for public service vehicle (PSV) SACCOs and up to 80% for individual members. This initiative is part of NCBA’s broader commitment of KES 2 billion toward e-mobility financing to reduce the cost barriers associated with transitioning to electric transport.