Wahu Mobility opens Ghana’s first EV assembly plant, producing sustainable e-bikes for last-mile delivery.
Ghana is embracing the electric vehicle (EV) movement with the opening of Wahu Mobility, the country’s first EV assembly plant capable of building about 200 e-bikes per month. The e-mobility brand aims to offer a sustainable last-mile delivery option, stepping away from petrol motorbikes.
“We are more conscious around becoming sustainable and moving to net zero,” said Wahu Mobility Co-Founder and CEO Valerie Labi. “Transport was just a huge opportunity to make a difference in that way.”
Wahu Mobility’s e-bikes, designed to suit Ghana’s infrastructure and road conditions, take around four hours to charge. To support drivers transitioning to EV, the company offers a payment plan to offset charges.
“The demand has been really high,” shared Wahu Mobility’s Head of Technology Ian Mbote. “Our vehicle not only plugs into the needs of a Ghanaian customer but also those of a South African customer, a Zambian customer. And this is why I see vast opportunity.”
Labi believes that with the right moves, the company could secure partnerships across the African continent and sell to Europe, Asia, and additional markets. “A lot of production has to happen in Asia, so looking at how we localize components is a huge opportunity for local artisans,” she said. “We can scale this facility up to 2,000 bikes a month.”
While Wahu Mobility is confident in its vision for the future, the team is also aware of the high costs and lack of accessibility associated with transitioning to EV. “Africa as we know it is not your ideal scenario for grid power or conventional sources of power,” said Mbote. “Not many people have access to electricity as we would know it.”
Labi shared that Wahu Mobility is selling its e-bikes in Togo, has a partnership with East Africa, and is exploring Northern African markets. Within the next two years, she hopes for her company’s e-bikes to be available in most major cities on the continent.