The cost of electric vehicles (EVs) has long looked like a barrier to adoption in Africa. Most researchers didn’t expect battery power to become affordable enough to replace petrol or diesel on the continent before 2040. But falling battery costs, surging global EV production and abundant solar resources are changing that view.

Since a few years, the sector has begun a major transformation: electrification. Electric motorcycles promise significantly lower operating costs, less maintenance and reduced urban pollution. For professional riders who spend most of their income on petrol and repairs, switching to electric can increase their daily earnings.

A study of 1,000 sub-Saharan African households using off-grid PAYG solar systems found that 77% reduce their electricity use after the first year, leading to underused, often oversized systems. This persistent decline is driven by behavioural changes as well as economic constraints.