Firm launches gasoline-electric conversion, battery swap services for tricycle in Kano

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

A firm, VoltTrac Africa Ltd., in collaboration with Chinese partners, has launched electric mobility ecosystem for commercial tricycle operators in Kano state.
The ecosystem, includes electric tricycle conversion, battery swapping, selling brand-new and second hand electric tricycles and solar-powered Photovoltaic, PV car shed services.
Speaking at the launching ceremony in Kano on Saturday, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, COO, of the company, Bashir Suwaid said the services were launched with a view to making electric transportation practical, reliable, and affordable in the state.
According to Suwaid, the VoltTrac Africa’s goal is to make electric conversion and ownership affordable, practical, and accessible for every hardworking tricycle rider.
He explained that the company would convert existing petrol tricycles into electric ones, allowing riders to keep the vehicles they already own while enjoying the benefits of electric mobility.
“We now have brand-new electric tricycles available for sale to individuals, fleet operators, businesses, and institutions that want to begin their journey with fully electric vehicles.
“Our battery swapping stations, where riders can replace a discharged battery with a fully charged one in just a few minutes instead of waiting hours to recharge.
“We have solar-powered PV car shed, which provides clean, renewable energy to support our charging infrastructure and reduce operating costs
“Together, these four solutions create one complete ecosystem that makes electric transportation practical, reliable, and affordable,” Suwaid explained.
The Co-founder also announced that the company had introduced flexible payment options for both electric tricycle conversions and brand-new electric tricycles sales.
He explained that the idea is to give every hardworking Nigerian an opportunity to own an electric tricycle at affordable payment system.
He also said the idea of the company is to support the efforts of the state government towards achieving climate change resilience and provision of employment opportunities to the teeming youths in the state.
Suwaid also called on the state government investors, financial institutions, businesses, and transport operators to partner with the firm in a bid to make Kano become the leading hub for electric mobility in Northern Nigeria and build a smarter, cleaner, and more prosperous future.
Speaking on behalf of the company’s partners on China-Nigeria partnership on electric mobility, Madam Juliana narrated that the journey to the launch of the station dated back to about a decade ago when it ventured in textile business in Kano.
She recalled that the success of the business and her love for Kano is what prompted the launch of the station in the state as a “payback”.
According to Mrs Juliana, the station had brought what she described as a practical solution that would help commercial tricycle riders reduce fuel costs, have low maintenance expense, increase their daily income and build a better future for their families.
In his remarks, the state’s governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf expressed delight for being the innovation to Kano, which he said, alignes to his administration’s development mantra.
Yusuf, represented by the state’s Commissioner, Ministry of Transportation, Haruna Dederi, expressed happiness that the VoltTrac Africa has brought a new technology in the transportation sector of the state.