Erick Mome Morro is Founder and CEO of the eMo Bodaboda Tanzania under a startup company called Techno Roads Eye Tanzania Co. Limited. He grew up in Dar Es Salaam and went to University of Dar Es Salaam and Evangelical University of Nürnberg in Germany. He is a Polisociologist and International Social Worker and also he is award winner of the Roland Berger Human Dignity Award.
Erick is a believer in youth and green energy, and through this belief, he connected technology and innovation by establishing eMo Bodaboda Tanzania.
His vision began 5 years ago and he has been investigating and discussing with many bobaboda riders about the problem of the business and mobility in Tanzania. Most bodaboda riders are experiencing financial and operating cost problems such as high fuel cost which changes every month, high maintenance costs and environmental pollution due to noise and gas emission.
The introduction of an electric motorcycle called eMo Bodaboda in Tanzania is the solution for all problems mentioned above. The startup company has started with a pilot project of two types of eMo Bodabodas. The eMo Bodaboda KG1 and eMo Bodaboda KG2. The eMo Bodaboda KG1 is a swapping system electric motorcycle and the eMo Bodaboda KG2 is a battery attached system electric motorcycle.
We had an opportunity to talk to Erick, and here’s what he had to share about eMo Bodaboda and electric vehicles.
- How much can a rider save on fuel per year using your bikes?
Normally fuel for bodabada costs Tshs. 10,000 per day. For a month, a bodaboda driver can spend up to Tshs. 300,000. Apart from that also there are other costs e.g. engine service, oil change and other maintenance costs, which can cover up to Tshs. 120,000 per month. Therefore at the end of the month a fuel Bodaboda rider can spent up to 420,000.
When he or she uses an electric motorcycle from eMo Bodaboda, the total cost can cut up to 50% because with eMo Bodaboda a rider can spend electricity units of Tshs 5,000 for a distance of 90-100 Kms per day. The eMo Bodaboda does not need a lot of services e.g. engine and oil service because it uses battery, motor and controller.
With eMo Bodaboda a rider can spend electricity units of Tshs 5,000 for a distance of 90-100 Kms per day.
2. How does licensing work for your company as well as for riders?
The business is under the Techno Roads Eye Co. Ltd with the business and brand name of eMo Bodaboda. The license was given by TRA. Our riders are supposed to have a motor vehicle driving license in order to ride our eMo Bodabodas. Once they become an eMo Bodaboda, they must attend a workshop. The workshop consists of how to ride an eMo Bodaboda, how to take care of it, and other roads security measures.
3. Why isn’t everyone in Tanzania moving to electric?
Electric vehicle is something new in Tanzania. Many people are not informed. Also, there is a lack of infrastructure, for example electricity cut offs, which can lead to a challenge to move an electric vehicles.
4. What knowledge and skills are involved with starting an electric vehicles business?
Starting an electric vehicle business in Africa, for example here in Tanzania, is not easy.
Firstly, it is a totally new technology. Therefore as a founder you need to have a passion on electric vehicles and green energy.
Secondly, you need to know the technology that is behind the product and how the product works.
Third, you should be able to convince the community and proof the concept that people can use it and that it is affordable compare to fuel vehicles.
5. How do you plan to scale and how can young people help?
We are now in a pilot phase. We want our product to get used to the Tanzanian environment.
Our plan is until July 2022 to have more than 200 eMo Bodaboda around Tanzania.
As we move forward, we want until 2025 to have 500,000 eMo Bodabodas which will dominate Tanzanian roads.
Our focus is also to convert from fuel to electric vehicles in our different locations in Tanzania and neighbouring countries like Zambia, Malawi and Burundi. We want eMo electric vehicles to be a famous and strong African brand. In order to achieve our plan, we also welcome different stakeholders such as investors, financial and technological institutions.
The advantage of eMo Bodaboda to young people is to increase the employment opportunities and cut costs that are relied from fuel-based bodabodas.
Electric vehicle are the way to go because the vehicles are not going to cause carbon emission and noise pollution for their generation and coming generations.
Also we are planning to introduce technological hubs and workshop centers around Tanzania, which will give opportunity for young people to get involved in the electric mobility and green energy ecosystem.
We want until 2025 to have 500,000 eMo Bodabodas which will dominate Tanzanian roads.
If you want to communicate with eMo Bodaboda, here are their contacts:
LinkedIn: eMo Bodaboda
Instagram: eMo Bodaboda
Facebook: eMo Bodaboda
Website: www.emobodaboda.co.tz
Physical address: eMo Bodaboda, Kigamboni Mnadani,
Mobile: +255 653 708 429
Super interesting and well done to the Emo team! How do your batteries work – do you make them or buy them? If you buy, would be great to learn where from.
We do buy and sell to our riders. You can buy from us. Please contact us via contact@emobodaboda.co.tz