Petrol-powered motorbike taxis will no longer be registered in Rwanda as the country seeks to transition towards electric vehicles by 2025.
“The goal is to promote the use of cleaner, more efficient energy and reduce gas emissions,” Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore told AFP.
The latest move will only apply to the nation’s capital, Kigali, and motorbikes used as taxis—a popular form of public transport.
Rwanda offers various subsidies to encourage electrification, such as reduced electricity rates for charging and tax incentives for battery manufacturers. According to the ministry, there are approximately 110,000 motorbikes in Rwanda, including 30,000 in Kigali, with 70,000 of them operating as taxis.
Eve Kayiranga, manager of SAFI Universal Link, one of several Rwandan firms selling e-bikes, welcomed the development as “a significant step forward for a greener city”.
“This policy not only helps reduce carbon emissions but also demonstrates the progress made in building supportive infrastructure for e-mobility in Rwanda,” she said.
E-drivers have also given positive feedback on e-bikes. Alfonsese Mbarabuceye, 32, mentioned that his daily earnings have risen by 50% since he transitioned from petrol in 2022.
“It has significantly reduced the cost of maintaining the bike as all I have to do now is change its battery once or twice a day,” he said.
