TotalEnergies,  Zembo unveil automated battery swapping station

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In a bold move aimed at accelerating electric mobility and deepening clean energy access, TotalEnergies Marketing Uganda, in partnership with Zembo, has launched a fully automated self-service battery swapping station.

Unveiled at the TotalEnergies Nakawa Service Station, this innovation by Zembo allows electric motorcycle riders to swap batteries 24/7, a breakthrough that removes downtime, reduces costs, and brings affordable clean transport closer to the masses.

Each station can serve over 100 riders per day, enabling fast, frictionless energy access and supporting riders who rely on uptime to earn a living.

Speaking at the launch, Board Chair Stephen Kaboyo emphasised the financial benefit for riders.

“E-mobility is not only about cleaner air; it is also about livelihoods. By switching to battery swapping, riders can save up on daily energy costs, which translates into savings every week that directly support their families.”

He reaffirmed TotalEnergies’ ambition to be a key player in the energy transition and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, highlighting the company’s continued investment in renewable and low-carbon solutions across Uganda.

Powering clean mobility in Africa

Zembo, Uganda, is pioneering Africa-specific e-mobility solutions that are practical, cost-saving, and scalable. With over 1,100 e-bikes sold and a rapidly growing battery swapping network, the company is positioning Uganda as a leader in the continent’s clean transport revolution.

“This station is more than just hardware, it’s a locally built innovation designed for African cities, by African engineers. It demonstrates Uganda’s growing capacity to lead in green technology,” James Obarowski, Chief Executive Officer at Zembo, noted.

With a growing number of boda boda users in Kampala, Zembo is targeting mass adoption. By 2030, the company aims to power 50 million battery swaps, eliminating 3M MT of CO₂ emissions and saving riders $100M in fuel and maintenance costs.

This new infrastructure directly supports that mission with seamless energy-as-a-service, riders reduce their daily transport costs by 40% while gaining time and reliability.

By the end of 2025, Zembo plans to expand its network to 100 battery swapping stations across Uganda, including through deployment of automated stations and micro-franchise partnerships that empower local entrepreneurs.

Efforts to boost electric motorcycle usage

A UNEP-led project in Kenya and Uganda is aiming to conserve the environment. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), it has trained more than 100 women as electric motorcycle operators, mechanics and entrepreneurs.

The project’s goal is to reduce pollution, as electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions while creating economic opportunities.

The transport industry is the world’s second-largest emitter of planet-warming greenhouse gases, following only the power sector.

Demand for motorcycles is spiking across Africa – a hunger Kenya and Uganda are aiming to sate with electric vehicles. In both countries, the majority of electricity comes from renewable sources, meaning electric motorcycles have a relatively low carbon footprint. 

While less than 1 per cent of all African motorcycles are electric, sales of these vehicles jumped 40 per cent in 2024, found the International Energy Agency.

That rise is being driven in part by economics. The electric-motorcycle maker Zembo, a UNEP partner, found riders save $500 yearly on fuel compared to petrol bikes.