Ghanaian startup Kofa is making strides in sustainable energy with its battery network solutions. Currently, it is rolling out an e-motorcycle in its home market and planning to expand its battery swapping solution to Kenya and Togo.
Kofa aims to build an affordable and customer-focused electricity network powered by portable batteries and renewable energy. It has developed Kore2, a multi-use high-capacity battery system, and a battery swapping network to promote a sustainable energy future in West Africa.
While making his remarks, Kofa’s CEO Erik Nygard stated,
Kofa’s core innovation lies in providing high-performance power through its batteries, which are not only cost-effective – being at least 30 per cent more competitive than petrol – but also versatile in their applications
The company’s charging and battery swap network is expanding across Ghana. Soon, it will support over 100,000 battery swaps annually. This network will facilitate a seamless transition to clean energy for various users.
Kofa has partnered with TAIL-G, a globally recognized e-motorcycle manufacturer, to design the Jidi e-motorcycle, tailored for the African market.
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Innovative Partnerships and Market Expansion
The Jidi e-motorcycle, equipped with Kofa’s Kore2 battery, offers a range of over 100 km. It meets the region’s mobility needs with a sustainable solution. The startup has also partnered with Nigeria’s MAX, a pioneer in electric vehicle solutions in Africa. This partnership will allow MAX to offer financing options for over 2,000 Jidi bikes.
Nygard emphasized that Kofa’s founding team focused on creating the right infrastructure for electric vehicles in West Africa. Unlike other companies that import ready-made EVs, Kofa is building a market for efficient batteries and the charging infrastructure to support them.
“Our primary competition is petrol. Whether it’s a small business losing money because of high-priced petrol generators, or a delivery driver traveling across Accra with polluting motorbike, Kofa is trying to solve the problems that existing petrol systems are causing
Kofa started its operations in Ghana in 2021 with the Volta motorcycle, deploying 40 across Accra to learn from the market. The second version, the Jidi, has seen the startup deploy over 10 charging stations, 500 Kore2 batteries, and 150 Jidis since January of this year.
There are plans to bring 7,000 more bikes into operation soon, expanding to four cities. Kofa also intends to extend its reach to Kenya and Togo shortly. The startup secured seed funding from the Shell Foundation, with support from the UK’s FCDO, Wangara Green Ventures, and Mercy Corps Ventures.