Green on 2 Wheels (Go-2W): translating low-carbon energy into low-cost mobility Go-2W will trial a token-based incentive system to match electricity demand from battery swap stations (BSSs) for electric 2-wheelers (E2Ws) to on-site solar and surplus renewable electricity in Kenya.

In Go-2W, E2W riders will be rewarded for using green batteries charged from low-carbon sources via in-app tokens redeemable for future battery swaps. Rewards will be based on the relative costs of peak (dominated by fossil fuels), off-peak (dominated by geothermal/hydro) and on-site solar electricity used to charge the batteries. Although the Kenyan energy regulator introduced an e-mobility tariff with peak and half-price off-peak rates in April 2023 (tinyurl.com/bdm33dmj), there is currently no mechanism to translate these rates to differential costs as seen by riders using BSSs, and therefore no incentive for the end user to use the low-cost low-carbon electricity on offer.

Without intervention, the growth in electricity demand from e-mobility risks being added to the existing peak, stressing the power system and demanding more fossil fuels. The innovative token system developed in Go-2W will take advantage of BSSs' flexibility to utilise low-cost renewables, thereby reducing the cost and carbon footprint of ARC Ride's charging solutions.

Go-2W will install 10 solarised BSSs at key sites across Nairobi, which were shortlisted as part of previous work. A 4-month trial will be designed and conducted with 100-150 participants, targeting in particular boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) riders and female commuters (who are likely to have care-giving responsibilities, and face other barriers to the use of 2-wheelers for mobility). Data will be collected from the BSSs (electricity demand; solar generation; battery swap activity) and the riders (surveys; interviews) to produce learning on:

(i) To what extent BSS demand can be matched to low-carbon sources using incentives designed around their low cost, given the constraints of local travel habits;

(ii) How the benefits of such a scheme are distributed amongst its user groups;

(iii) What the monetary savings are translated into amongst its user groups; and

(iv) (based on (ii) and (iii)) what can be done to promote such a scheme to new users in future markets.

The innovations from Go-2W will increase the affordability of clean energy amongst low-income groups in Kenya. Whilst the trial would take place in Nairobi, the recommendations would be applicable for scaling up across other sub-Saharan African cities. With a booming 2-wheeler market and a newly released e-mobility tariff, Kenya is a natural test-bed for these innovations. Go-2W will trial a token-based incentive system to match electricity demand from battery swap stations (BSSs) for electric 2-wheelers (E2Ws) to on-site solar and surplus renewable electricity in Kenya.

In Go-2W, E2W riders will be rewarded for using green batteries charged from low-carbon sources via in-app tokens redeemable for future battery swaps. Rewards will be based on the relative costs of peak (dominated by fossil fuels), off-peak (dominated by geothermal/hydro) and on-site solar electricity used to charge the batteries. Although the Kenyan energy regulator introduced an e-mobility tariff with peak and half-price off-peak rates in April 2023 (tinyurl.com/bdm33dmj), there is currently no mechanism to translate these rates to differential costs as seen by riders using BSSs, and therefore no incentive for the end user to use the low-cost low-carbon electricity on offer.

Without intervention, the growth in electricity demand from e-mobility risks being added to the existing peak, stressing the power system and demanding more fossil fuels. The innovative token system developed in Go-2W will take advantage of BSSs' flexibility to utilise low-cost renewables, thereby reducing the cost and carbon footprint of ARC Ride's charging solutions.

Go-2W will install 10 solarised BSSs at key sites across Nairobi, which were shortlisted as part of previous work. A 4-month trial will be designed and conducted with 100-150 participants, targeting in particular boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) riders and female commuters (who are likely to have care-giving responsibilities, and face other barriers to the use of 2-wheelers for mobility). Data will be collected from the BSSs (electricity demand; solar generation; battery swap activity) and the riders (surveys; interviews) to produce learning on:

(i) To what extent BSS demand can be matched to low-carbon sources using incentives designed around their low cost, given the constraints of local travel habits;

(ii) How the benefits of such a scheme are distributed amongst its user groups;

(iii) What the monetary savings are translated into amongst its user groups; and

(iv) (based on (ii) and (iii)) what can be done to promote such a scheme to new users in future markets.

The innovations from Go-2W will increase the affordability of clean energy amongst low-income groups in Kenya. Whilst the trial would take place in Nairobi, the recommendations would be applicable for scaling up across other sub-Saharan African cities. With a booming 2-wheeler market and a newly released e-mobility tariff, Kenya is a natural test-bed for these innovations.