- Spiro, an electric vehicle company, collaborated with the Ogun State government in Nigeria to set up swap stations for electric motorcycle batteries.
- Starting with 13 swapping stations for the pilot, which is expected to be completed within the next six months, the state plans to expand to 250 stations.
- The state said it conducted motorcycle test drives in Abeokuta, the state capital. The state government tested it on rough roads and areas to ensure its longevity and adaptability.
Established in 2019 under the name "M Auto Electric," the electric vehicle company seeks to expedite the mobility industry's access to renewable energy technology.
Following a rebranding and launch into the African market in 2022 under the name Spiro, the company is currently operating in Benin, Togo, Rwanda, and Uganda, and with the recent partnership, it is also expanding into Nigeria. Additionally, it has established alliances in Kenya, such as Watu Credit, to extend motorcycle financing in that country.
The startup claims to have deployed up to 12,000 bikes, travelling 186 million kilometres without emitting emissions and averting roughly 10,000 tonnes of CO2.
Spiro's CEO, Kaushik Burman, described the company's partnership and launch in Ogun State as an ambitious effort to electrify Nigeria.
Spiro offers a service called "battery swapping," which entails exchanging depleted batteries for recharged ones at their battery-swapping station.
Spiro announced in early February that it would implement a State of Charge (SoC) billing system to change how customers interact with electric vehicles. It calculates the exact amount of new charge in the battery rather than assuming a full battery regardless of usage. SoC ensures customers pay only for what they use.
Moreover, the state government has engaged with unions, commercial riders, and the Ministry of Transport about the battery-swapping project. It plans to transition from internal combustion engines to sustainable energy, resulting in a 30-40% reduction in operating costs.
Spiro's entry into the Nigerian market comes as the country experiences a rise in fuel prices following the removal of fuel subsidies in early 2023.
Nigeria is attracting more attention from electric vehicle manufacturers and companies. In October 2023, a Nigerian EV company, Possible Electric Vehicle Solution (Possible EVS), announced that it would establish plants in Nigeria to manufacture electric vehicles. In November, BHN Transport and Logistics Limited launched its 45-ton electric trucks in Ogun State.
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However, industry experts are sceptical of the early adoption of electric vehicles in Nigeria due to national limitations such as insufficient power supply, a shortage of certified EV technicians, limited charging infrastructure, and service providers for various EV models.
