A Kigali motorcycle taxi driver has reported higher daily earnings after replacing his petrol-powered bike with an electric one, saying reduced running costs have made a noticeable difference to his livelihood.
Claver Habagusenga shared his experience in an interview published by The Guardian on Friday, November 13, describing how electric motorcycles are changing his working day in the Rwandan capital.
“I spent less today. That is all that matters to me and my family,” he said.
Habagusenga recalled using about three litres of petrol a day when he rode a conventional motorcycle. At that time, he said, he made around $6.09 in daily profit. He now reports earning $11.50 a day from his electric bike.
The two figures are not directly comparable because one was described as profit and the other as earnings. Nevertheless, Habagusenga credits lower operating expenses with improving his financial situation.
He said he visits battery-swapping stations three times daily, paying about $1.69 for each exchange. The system allows him to replace a depleted battery with a charged one rather than leave his motorcycle parked for hours.
Maintenance has also changed. When he owned a petrol motorcycle, he regularly spent money on oil changes and air-filter servicing. His electric bike does not need engine oil changes, and he finds it quieter to operate.
His working routine now includes regular customers. Habagusenga said three Kigali families had hired him to take their young children to and from school, adding predictable journeys to his usual passenger trips.
He also believes the lower running costs help attract passengers, while the experience has encouraged him to recommend electric motorcycles to fellow drivers still using petrol.
His account comes as Kigali continues its transition towards electric motorcycle taxis. Since January 2025, new petrol-powered motorcycles seeking to enter the city’s commercial taxi sector have not been eligible for operating permits. Existing petrol motorcycle operators were allowed to continue working.
The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority also offers a financial incentive through its licensing system. Its published fee schedule lists no initial application fee for electric motorcycle authorisation, compared with Rwf10,000 for a petrol motorcycle.
Researchers are examining how the growing network of battery stations affects drivers’ expenses. A policy brief released by the International Growth Centre on November 4 analysed a trial involving more than 1,000 electric moto drivers at over 30 swapping stations in Kigali.
During the study, discounts encouraged riders to use less busy stations. A 30 percent price reduction lowered participating drivers’ daily spending on battery energy by approximately 9.1 percent without reducing their overall electricity use.
The results suggest pricing can help operators manage costs while spreading demand across stations. They do not mean every rider will see the same savings when switching from petrol.
Access to charged batteries, financing arrangements, maintenance costs and passenger demand all affect how much an individual driver ultimately keeps.
For Habagusenga, the appeal is immediate. His experience shows how the move towards electric transport can matter not only for cleaner air, but also for the money motorcycle taxi drivers bring home.
Elie GATETE
RADIOTV10