Updated Aug 17, 2020

Ampersand

https://www.ampersand.solar/

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Ampersand is Africa’s first and leading integrated electric motorcycle and transport energy solution.

Ampersand has also established a network of both grid- and solar-powered battery stations enabling drivers to swap used batteries for charged ones for less than the cost of gas and return to the road in under two minutes. E-motos are a cost-effective solution that exceed the performance of traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles at the same price point without the high fuel and maintenance cos...
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Ampersand has also established a network of both grid- and solar-powered battery stations enabling drivers to swap used batteries for charged ones for less than the cost of gas and return to the road in under two minutes. E-motos are a cost-effective solution that exceed the performance of traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles at the same price point without the high fuel and maintenance costs. This change can increase drivers’ take home pay by more than 50 percent. With support from Development Innovation Ventures, Ampersand will grow and position its business for scale and commercial investment by improving its battery technology, software, logistics, and customer support capacity as it adds more charging stations and bikes to its fleet.
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Stage 2: Research & Development

Focus Areas:

Energy and Transport & Supply Chains

Energy and Transport & Supply ChainsSEE LESS

Implemented In:

Rwanda

RwandaSEE LESS

1
Country Implemented In
Verified Funding
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Problem

Motorcycle taxis (known as “motos” or “boda bodas”) are an essential and popular form of transportation in East Africa’s increasingly congested cities where an estimated 5 million bodas carry 100 million passengers a day, a distance equivalent to a round trip journey to the sun. All of these trips contribute to air pollution.Additionally, drivers face volatile and rising fuel prices that result in low profits and uncertainty.

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Solution

Using technology adapted for the local marketand the right business model to achieve scale, our vehicles deliver superior driving performance,emit 75% less carbon than petrol motorcycles with zero tailpipe emissionsand put over $500 a year back into drivers' pockets.

Planned Goals and Milestones

Ampersand aims to scale within Rwanda and across East Africa’s $10 billion market over five years, which is projected to reduce emissions by an estimated 151,200 tons.

Milestone

Aug 2020
New Country Implemented In
Rwanda
Jul 2020
Funds RaisedVERIFIED
$500,000
TITLEMass-Market Electric Motorcycle Taxis
TYPEGrant
FOCUS AREAS
Energy
Implemented InRwanda
ORGANIZATIONU.S. Agency for International DevelopmentU.S. Agency for International Development 
as part of
 Development Innovation Ventures (DIV), U.S. Global Development LabDevelopment Innovation Ventures (DIV), U.S. Global Development Lab
Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) IS POWERED BY GLOBAL INNOVATION EXCHANGE, A TECH PLATFORM FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT INNOVATIONS.

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