Lagos gets electric tricycle hailing via Bolt

Bolt has launched its first fleet of electric tricycles in Lagos, Nigeria, marking a strategic milestone in the company’s broader push for sustainable, low-emission transportation solutions across Africa. The introduction of battery-powered “keke” aims to address urban pollution, reduce operational costs for drivers, and promote cleaner, more efficient mobility in one of Africa’s most traffic-congested cities.

The electric tricycles are designed to handle Lagos’s dense urban grid while offering quieter, smoother rides. This new service complements Bolt’s earlier tricycle deployments in cities like Uyo and is part of a larger regional strategy that aligns with the company’s global sustainability goals.

Lagos has faced mounting pressure to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality, with transport accounting for a significant share of the city’s pollution. Electric vehicles offer a path forward, and Bolt’s new launch is a rare commercial attempt to introduce them at scale in Nigeria’s informal transport segment. The move mirrors broader efforts across the continent to decarbonize urban transit.

In Kenya, Bolt previously partnered with EV startups BasiGo and Ampersand to pilot electric two- and three-wheelers in Nairobi, supporting the East African country’s ambition to shift 5% of all registered vehicles to electric by 2025. In Rwanda, the government has offered tax incentives and charging infrastructure to support companies like Ampersand, which has deployed hundreds of electric motorcycles. In Uganda, startups such as Spiro (formerly M Auto) are scaling electric bike services across Kampala and Entebbe with VC support.

Bolt’s foray into electric tricycles in Lagos signals a shift in its market strategy, moving beyond traditional ride-hailing to invest in green mobility infrastructure. The company has yet to disclose the number of vehicles deployed or specifics about the battery technology, but industry observers see the move as a testing ground for larger-scale electric vehicle (EV) integration in West Africa.

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The deployment is also likely to reduce operational costs for drivers, who typically spend a large share of their daily income on fuel. With rising fuel prices in Nigeria and recent subsidy removals, electric tricycles could offer a more affordable alternative for both drivers and passengers. According to a 2023 UN report, fuel savings from EVs in African markets can reach 30–40% over conventional combustion engines, depending on usage and charging access.

As Lagos authorities look to phase out high-emission vehicles and regulate informal transport, private players like Bolt are helping to bridge the gap between clean technology and street-level adoption. Whether this pilot succeeds may depend on broader policy support, access to charging infrastructure, and the scalability of maintenance networks for electric tricycles.

Bolt has not confirmed when or if the service will expand to other Nigerian cities. However, its expansion into electric mobility reinforces its long-term interest in becoming a leader in Africa’s evolving transportation ecosystem.