For two decades, Latif has been a motorcycle taxi driver in Cotonou, Benin. These drivers, which number around 150,000 in the port city, are known as Zem' – a term derived from the Fongbè expression "Zemidjan" meaning "take me fast." But Latif has undergone a transformative shift in his daily routine since purchasing an electric motorcycle in November 2022. The transition to electric vehicles has brought not only economic advantages but also a renewed sense of the riding experience for both driver and passenger. "I no longer feel as exhausted when I return home from work," said Latif. "With the electric motorcycle, there's no engine noise and no more jerks during gear changes. The routes may be the same, but the rides feel entirely different. I know Cotonou inside out, but it feels as though I am rediscovering my city."
Nearly 3,000 electric motorcycles are now on the road in Benin, mainly around Cotonou. "The network extends to Porto-Novo and almost as far as Ouidah," said Hervé Hountondji, sales director of M-Auto, a company of Indian company owned by Africa Transformation and Industrialization Fund (ATIF), an investment fund specializing in industry and economic development in Africa. "By the end of 2023, we hope to sell 25,000 motorcycles throughout Benin and replace 70% of the Zem' fleet two years later," added Hountondji, whose company shares the market with Zed-Motors. "Since May 2022, we have been consistently selling an average of 50 motorcycles per day in Benin and have seen similar growth in Togo."
The benefits of electric motorcycles are numerous, and for Latif, the advantages are clear. In addition to being quiet, 100% electric motorcycles have fewer moving parts than traditional combustion motorcycles, resulting in reduced maintenance costs. "There's no exhaust, no need for oil changes and almost no maintenance required," Latif explained. "Plus, they don't pollute."
Increasing pollution
Sub-Saharan Africa is facing a growing pollution problem, aggravated by a rapidly increasing population in its cities and rising urban density. In major metropolitan areas, pollution from road traffic is a leading cause of death. According to a 2016 study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), premature deaths caused by fine particulate matter in Africa rose by 36% between 1990 and 2013. "If no action is taken, Africa could account for half of the world's pollution emissions by 2030," warned Cathy Liousse, the director of research at the Aerology Laboratory in Toulouse, in a 2019 interview with Le Monde.
In Benin, the pollution issue is aggravated by the widespread use of smuggled, low-quality gasoline known as kpayo. Sold on nearly every street corner in glass bottles, this fuel is often sourced from neighboring Nigeria, the continent's largest oil producer, where gasoline is heavily subsidized. This tainted fuel not only shortens the lifespan of engines but also results in black smoke spewing from the exhausts of thousands of vehicles across Benin, causing significant air pollution.
Accelerating the green transition
The battery market in West Africa is poised for significant growth, with an expected increase of over 4.9% through 2025, according to Mordor Intelligence, an Indian research firm specializing in industry and electricity. This growth is driven in part by the increasing popularity of electric two-wheelers in the region, as an increasing number of people in Benin turn to these vehicles to protect the environment. However, there are also economic incentives at play. "You have to wait two months before you can get your motorcycle," said Hountondji. However, the company has implemented attractive payment plans that allow customers to pay for their vehicle on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
In an effort to accelerate the green transition, the government of Benin has taken the initiative to exempt 100% electric vehicles from VAT and customs duties. This move is intended to make them more accessible and affordable for the public. The electric motorcycles being sold in Benin are manufactured in India and are assembled in the industrial zone of Glo Djigbé (GDIZ), located 45 kilometers north of Cotonou. Despite being slightly more expensive than traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles, which typically sell for around 600,000 CFA francs (€914), the electric motorcycles offer a more sustainable and eco-friendly option. For example, the "Chap-chap" model costs 695,000 CFA francs (€1,059) while the "Commando" model, which is more powerful and comfortable, is priced at 883,720 CFA francs (€1,347).
"I did my calculations and I spend much less than before thanks to this motorcycle," said Yakoubou Ligali, a Cotonou merchant who switched to an electric motorcycle in November 2022. The benefits are clear, but there is one drawback: the battery autonomy. With a range of around 70 kilometers per battery and two batteries per vehicle, riders need to plan their trips carefully and make regular stops to replace them at one of the 57 centers located throughout Cotonou. While the replacement operation only takes two minutes and costs 1,000 CFA francs (€1.5), it can be a bit of an inconvenience for those who need to travel longer distances. "I change them two or three times a day," says Latif. "If only they could be more autonomous."
The batteries used in the electric vehicles, which remain the property of M-Auto after purchase, have an estimated lifespan of 10 years. While the use of these batteries brings many benefits, there are concerns about their disposal once they reach the end of their life. Will they be shipped back to India for recycling? Or sent to Ghana, where the recycling sector is already developing? Hountondji believes that "a whole logistics system will be set up here" to address this issue. However, the challenge of safely and responsibly disposing of used batteries is a significant one. In India, small battery recycling factories have proliferated in recent years, but they often do not adhere to the necessary standards for the extraction of toxic materials such as lead or lithium, which are present in batteries. According to the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution, a collaborative organization with 60 members, lead alone causes nearly 233,000 premature deaths in India each year.