Ampersand Energy has taken a decisive step toward reshaping Africa’s electric mobility landscape by opening its battery swap network to third-party electric vehicle manufacturers, starting with a landmark partnership with Wylex Mobility. The move positions Ampersand not just as an electric motorcycle maker, but as the backbone energy provider for Africa’s rapidly growing commercial two-wheel transport market.
Founded in 2019, Ampersand has built its reputation through deep vertical integration. The company designs and assembles electric motorcycles, develops proprietary batteries, operates swap stations, and runs the software layer that connects the entire system. That end-to-end control allowed it to solve a persistent challenge facing many African EV startups: unreliable batteries, short vehicle lifespans, and costly downtime for riders whose livelihoods depend on daily uptime.
Now, after six years of research, deployment, and scale, Ampersand is deliberately unbundling the most valuable part of its business — energy infrastructure. By opening its battery and swap network, the company is betting that mass adoption of electric motorcycles in Africa will be driven by shared, reliable energy systems rather than proprietary hardware.
“This is a landmark moment for Africa’s electric transport sector,” said Ampersand CEO Josh Whale. “We’ve created a top-tier energy infrastructure that any vehicle partner meeting our quality standards can join. Ampersand is the first and only company in Africa to offer an open battery swap network.”
Wylex Mobility, an established electric motorcycle manufacturer with nearly three decades of engineering experience, is the first external partner to plug into Ampersand’s network. The Wylex motorcycle — purpose-built for African commercial use — features an 8,000W motor, a reinforced extra-long seat, and a carrying capacity of 200kg. After passing Ampersand’s stringent quality and durability tests, the bike will be deployed on Ampersand’s swap network across East Africa.
Under the partnership, Ampersand supplies batteries, swap access, and energy software, while Wylex focuses on vehicle manufacturing. The bikes will be assembled in Nairobi and distributed through existing asset-finance partners, lowering barriers for riders to switch from petrol-powered motorcycles.
The collaboration creates an unusual but intentional dynamic. Ampersand’s own Alpha motorcycles will now compete directly with Wylex bikes on the same infrastructure. Whale describes this as healthy competition, arguing that riders benefit from more choice while staying on the region’s most reliable energy network.
“Customers want more motorcycle options, but they still want to stay on our network because of reliability,” Whale said. “That tells us where the real value lies.”
The scale of that value is significant. Ampersand currently delivers over 20,000 battery swaps per day across Kenya and Rwanda and has powered more than 400 million kilometres of travel. Each swap costs riders roughly $2 for about 80 kilometres of range, cutting fuel costs by around 35% and meaningfully increasing riders’ take-home income.
Africa’s opportunity is vast. Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to have more than 27 million motorcycles, most used for commercial transport. In Kenya alone, electric bikes accounted for over 7% of new motorcycle registrations in 2024, a figure expected to rise sharply as energy infrastructure improves.
Ampersand’s ambition is to build 50–60 strategically located swap stations per major city, each capable of serving thousands of riders. By positioning itself at the center of the energy layer, the company believes it can accelerate electrification at a continental scale.
“The energy business for motorbikes in Africa is likely far larger than the motorcycle business itself,” Whale said. “The more great bikes riders can choose from, the faster the market grows — and every new bike strengthens the system.”
With its open network strategy, Ampersand may have just defined the blueprint for Africa’s electric mobility future.
