Kigali, Rwanda – May 2025 – Ampersand, Africa’s leading electric vehicle (EV) energy tech company, is proud to announce a significant milestone in its journey to improve how Africa moves. The company’s flagship electric motorcycles, formerly known as Ampersand, will now be known as Alpha. A separate brand identity for the Ampersand motorcycle both reflects its pioneering legacy as the first commercial electric motorcycle in Africa, as well as distinguishes the motorcycle brand from Ampersand’s core energy technology and swap station business.
Since its inception as Africa’s first e-mobility startup, Ampersand has been at the forefront of cutting carbon emissions and driving clean economic prosperity by making EV energy technology and infrastructure accessible to the mass market. As of today, Ampersand powers over 5,700 e-motos travelling an average of 950,000km daily. That’s the equivalent of travelling 100 times from Cape of Good Hope to Cairo daily.
Ampersand is delivering life-changing savings for its customers, improving air quality, and enhancing public health. Now, with the introduction of the Alpha brand, Ampersand demonstrates its ongoing commitment to ensuring customers have the best e-motorcycles available, while also providing clean, reliable energy to a growing list of mobility partners..
Market Leaders: The Proof is in the Ride
The market has spoken with overwhelming clarity: 9 out of 10 riders in Rwanda choose Alpha e-motos (formerly Ampersand) over competitors, including well-funded international alternatives. This extraordinary preference isn’t coincidental—it’s built on tangible advantages that matter to daily users, derived from years of on-the-ground experience and vertically integrated R&D and manufacturing. Riders consistently cite Alpha’s unmatched reliability, superior range, and exceptional cost savings, which directly impact their livelihoods.
In independent comparisons, Alpha motorcycles deliver up to 40% more operational hours between maintenance, consistently outperforming alternatives in Rwanda and Kenya’s challenging terrain and conditions. Most tellingly, Alpha’s rider retention rate exceeds 98%, with the majority of operators becoming brand ambassadors who actively recruit fellow riders to make the switch—a testament to the motorcycle’s transformative impact.
Alpha: Built for Riders, Designed by Experience
With its drive for constant improvement, Ampersand has made valuable upgrades to the motorcycle riders know and love. Based on direct feedback from thousands of users, the newest Alpha model boasts over 50 enhancements, including;
A more rugged front tyre and reinforced wheel rim – Engineered for superior off-road performance, this upgrade provides enhanced traction and puncture resistance for riders who frequently navigate unpaved roads and rough terrain.
Hill Park Device – This innovative feature prevents rollback on steep inclines, ensuring safer hill starts and reducing rider fatigue during frequent stops on slopes.
Improved rebound damping – The upgraded suspension system delivers smoother shock absorption, offering greater comfort and control on uneven roads while reducing strain on the bike's frame.
Regenerative braking button – Riders can now manually engage regenerative braking to extend battery range while maintaining better speed control, particularly useful during downhill rides.
Improved turning radius with ergonomic handlebars—The enhanced steering system allows for tighter maneuvers in urban traffic and confined spaces, and ergonomic handlebars reduce rider fatigue.
Heavy-duty upper triple clamp – This reinforced component increases steering column durability, providing improved stability and handling under heavy loads or at higher speeds.
Upgraded steering head bearings – Delivering smoother steering response and reduced friction, these premium bearings enhance control precision and extend the bike's operational lifespan.
Additional features include a durable metal front mudguard, improved braking efficiency, a rugged rear tire, and increased seating comfort. Plus, riders will appreciate the added convenience of tank storage space—making the new Alpha more capable and rider-friendly than ever.
These updates ensure that Alpha remains the most reliable, cost-effective, and rider-friendly electric motorcycle on the market.
“The Alpha motorcycle represents the culmination of years of learning, innovation, and collaboration with our riders,” said Muhamed Ceesay, Senior Hardware Product Manager at Ampersand. “Every improvement we’ve made is a direct response to the needs of our customers, ensuring that Alpha continues to deliver unmatched value and performance.”
A Brand that Embodies Leadership and Legacy
The name Alpha was chosen to honor the motorcycle’s heritage as the first commercial electric motorcycle to successfully operate at scale in Africa. It also highlights Ampersand’s leadership in customer satisfaction, engineering, manufacturing and management. Alpha signifies pioneering, excellence, and the dawn of a new era of clean, affordable, better mobility for all.
“Alpha isn’t just a name—it’s a legacy,” said Alper Tilev, Co-founder & CTO at Ampersand. “This motorcycle pioneered the electric mobility revolution in Africa, and the new Alpha generation carries forward that legacy while establishing a distinct identity that riders can rally behind with pride.”
Ampersand’s Energy Revolution
At its core, Ampersand has evolved into more than a motorcycle manufacturer—it is now Africa’s leading EV energy and energy technology provider. The company’s AI-optimized battery swap network represents the continent’s most advanced energy delivery system for electric mobility.
This proprietary system manages nearly 18,000 battery recharges and swaps every day. The integrated IoT battery management platform ensures real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and 99.72% uptime across the network. Ampersand’s AI-driven backend software balances energy demand, optimizes battery lifecycles, and delivers unmatched reliability at the lowest possible operating and capex costs..
Partnering for Greater Impact
Recognizing the transformative potential of its energy technology, Ampersand is excited to announce the strategic expansion of its energy platform beyond its own vehicles. The company is in active discussions with several leading motorcycle manufacturers across Africa to integrate their models into Ampersand’s established energy network.
“We realized our energy technology was too good to keep to ourselves,” said Josh Whale, Founder & CEO of Ampersand. “For years, we tried to persuade the large motorcycle manufacturers to build electric motorcycles. But early in 2024, we reached a major inflection point. Suddenly, a range of large motorcycle manufacturers began knocking on our door, convinced that electric was the future for Africa’s motorcycle industry, and Ampersand was the clear leader in both vehicles and energy delivery in this sector. Our landmark exclusive partnership with BYD only accelerated that. By opening our batteries and network to other manufacturers, we can accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation while creating a more robust ecosystem that benefits all participants. Partnering with other motorcycle manufacturers also allows a much wider range of vehicles to become available to Africans far quicker, at lower prices, and in more countries than one company could ever do itself.”
This initiative represents a transformative shift in Ampersand’s business model—from a single motorcycle brand with proprietary energy infrastructure to an open ecosystem that supports multiple vehicle options. Customers will soon be able to choose from a diverse range of electric motorcycles, all powered by Ampersand’s reliable energy network.
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