Battery manufacturer Ampace Technology, based in the Chinese port city of Xiamen, will supply 1,000 cells to Indian mobility start-up Spiro. The agreement was signed recently between Jerry Jia, the chairman of the Chinese company, and Jules Samain, the CEO of the start-up, which was set up in 2019. It concerns lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
According to Rohit Pandita, Spiro’s Head of Strategic Sourcing, the cells supplied by Ampace are safer and more durable, “given the hot climates that prevail in most African countries”. The initiative is expected to contribute to the deployment of 140,000 electric motorbikes and the installation of a network of 3,000 Spiro battery exchange stations in Kampala. This is part of a partnership recently signed with the Ugandan government.
“This strategic partnership with Ampace is a huge step forward in our mission to provide reliable and clean energy transport across the continent. It’s not just about meeting growing demand, but also about creating employment opportunities and boosting local economies, particularly in Rwanda. As our production capacity increases, so does our impact on promoting economic growth and accelerating the energy transition in the mobility sector“, says the company, which is also represented in Benin and Togo.
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In these two West African countries, Spiro is already marketing its two electric motorbike models, “Chap Chap” and “Commando”. According to its founder, Shegun Bakari, recently appointed head of Beninese diplomacy, these vehicles are equipped with a 72 V lithium battery capable of speeds of up to 90 km/h. The two-wheelers will be recharged at stations to be set up by the end of 2023 at the Glo Djigbé industrial park in Cotonou and near the Plateforme industrielle d’Adétikopé in Lomé respectively.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi