By Eddah Waithaka
Zeno, a global electric mobility company founded by former Tesla, Apple, Ola Electric, SafeBoda, and Bolt executives, has officially entered the East African market with its new Zeno Emara electric motorcycle and a three-mode charging infrastructure system.
The company, headquartered in San Francisco, Nairobi, and Bangalore, has set up two assembly hubs and nine showrooms across the region, with Kenya receiving the first deliveries.
A Motorcycle Built for African Roads
Unlike typical electric scooters designed for light urban use, the Zeno Emara is a sport utility electric motorcycle engineered for durability and performance.
The name “Emara” means strength and resilience in Swahili, a fitting choice for a bike built to handle tough terrain.
With a 250 kg load capacity, 190 mm ground clearance, and the ability to climb steep gradients, the Emara targets commercial riders, including boda boda operators and delivery services.
“We designed the Emara to outperform petrol bikes while cutting operating costs by 30-50%,” said Michael Spencer, Zeno’s CEO.
“Our customers need a bike that lasts all day, carries heavy loads, and still saves them money.”
Solving the Charging Problem
One of the biggest hurdles for electric vehicles in Africa has been charging infrastructure.
Zeno tackles this with a first-of-its-kind multi-mode charging system, offering: – **Battery swap stations** (quick exchange for a fully charged battery) – **Fast-charge points** (under one hour) – **Overnight home charging** The company has already installed **40 charge points** along key routes, including **Nairobi to Nyeri and Nanyuki**.
Over the next year, Zeno plans to expand to 120 charge points in Nairobi and 500 nationwide, potentially making it Kenya’s largest EV charging network.
Overwhelming Market Response
Demand is surging, with 15,000 customers already on Zeno’s waitlist in Kenya, Uganda, and India.
The company is offering an introductory price of KSh 189,000, including KSh 15,000 in free charging credits.
Financing options start at KSh 290 per day, making it accessible for commercial riders.
Expanding Across East Africa and Beyond
After launching in Kenya, Zeno is immediately entering Uganda this week, with plans to expand across East Africa and other emerging markets.
“The shift to electric mobility isn’t just good for business, it’s essential for the environment,” Spencer said.
With over 600 million petrol-powered two- and three-wheelers in Africa and Asia, consuming $400 billion in fuel annually, Zeno’s entry could mark a major step toward cleaner, cheaper transport.
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