…targets 200 e-bikes monthly
By Ernest Bako WUBONTO
Wahu Mobility Limited has officially launched the first electronic vehicle plant in the country, which has a capacity to produce about 200 e-bikes monthly.
The move is in line with the country’s long-term e-vehicle production agenda and efforts to combat climate change.
As a climate-smart innovation hub, Wahu is on a mission to revolutionise urban transportation with mobility solutions that reduce carbon concentration in the atmosphere. This is in line with global trends emphasizing sustainability and eco-conscious living.
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wahu Ghana, Valerie Larbi, explained that the brand is focused on designing locally manufactured electric vehicles not only for Ghana but for the broader African continent.
“We have started with the two-wheel electric bike and over time will scale up to other vehicles, right here from this factory in Accra. We have our factory set up with the capability to do 200 bikes per month for export not just in ECOWAS but across the continent.
“Electric vehicle manufacturing presents Africa with a significant opportunity to also leapfrog the rest of the world in terms of mobility just like mobile money. The world did not expect Africa to get this big with mobile money but we did. Therefore, the same can be done with e-vehicles but there is the need to create e-zones and enclaves in the heart of the city to be able to design and produce different kinds of e-vehicles,” she said.
She added that these enclaves must come with incentives and tax benefits that foster an environment suitable for innovation.
Keenly aligned to the company’s efforts to address the climate change crisis on the continent is job creation for young people.
She added: “We put Ghana at the forefront of African e-mobility and sustainability. We expect Ghana’s success to become a blueprint for other African countries.”
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yaw Amoateng Afriyie, speaking at the inauguration of the factory, said the plant will strengthen the country’s position as an automobile hub in West Africa.
The Wahu bike is an electric bike designed to provide sustainable and affordable urban mobility. The bike is equipped with advanced features, including a dual-swappable battery, tracking device, battery management system and a smart lock controllable via a mobile app. It can transport a weight of up to 150 kilograms and offers multiple riding modes, making it suitable for both personal transport and the booming delivery sector.
The company’s mission is to lead the transition to sustainable mobility in Africa by designing locally manufactured electric vehicles, making them accessible and affordable, as well as, supporting a network of drivers and riders who contribute to a greener, more efficient urban transportation landscape.
