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Transcript/Script(PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA UBER ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES (TV)
HEADLINE: Uber Partnership to Deploy 3,000 Electric Motorcycles Across Africa
TEASER: The switch to electric motors could significantly reduce air pollution as motorcycle taxis employ millions across the continent
PUBLISHED AT: 12/28/21, 11:54a
BYLINE: Juma Majanga
DATELINE: Nairobi
VIDEOGRAPHER: Jimmy Makhulo
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Steve Hirsch, SV, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 3:19
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[The ride-sharing company Uber has joined with the Swedish-Kenyan electric vehicle group Opibus to deploy 3,000 electric motorcycles in Kenya and the region in 2022. The switch to electric vehicles could significantly reduce air pollution as motorcycle taxis employ millions across the continent. Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi.]]
((VIDEO-VOA: JOSEPHAT MUTISO SWITCHING ON HIS MOTORCYCLE, MUTISO FERRYING A PASSENGER ON HIS ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE IN THE STREETS OF NAIROBI-various))
((NARRATOR))
Josephat Mutiso is carrying a passenger on his noiseless, smokeless electric motorcycle in the streets of Nairobi. Just as in most cities across Africa, motorcycle taxi drivers are in almost every corner of Nairobi. Mutiso is among the first drivers here to have switched from fossil fuel to electric motorcycles, thanks to the partnership between Uber and Opibus.
((Josephat Mutiso, Motorcycle Taxi Driver (English, 25 secs) ))
“This is way efficient. It is even way easier to ride than the other one. You see, this one you don’t have so many controls, you just have the throttle, no clutch. The only thing you are focusing on is just the front brake and the rear brake. That way it gives you even more control of the bike. And it is pretty light, it does not vibrate. So even clients like this one better.”
((VIDEO-VOA: SWARM OF MOTORCYCLES IN THE STREETS OF PORTO-NOVO BENIN-various))
((NARRATOR))
Motorcycle taxis, also referred to as “boda boda,” have become increasingly common as public transportation in cities across Africa.
((Joyce Msuya, Outgoing UNEP Deputy Executive Director ((English, 30 secs))
“The number of newly registered motorcycles, commonly used as taxis or boda boda, was estimated in 2018 at 1.5 million and will likely grow five times million by 2030. Most are inefficient, poorly maintained and heavily polluting. UNEP’s studies show that boda boda drivers can more than double their income if they make the switch.”
((VIDEO-VOA: OPIBUS ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES ASSEMBLY WORKSHOP IN NAIROBI-various))
((NARRATOR))
The U.N. Environment Program, or UNEP, in March launched the first electric bikes project in Kenya, setting the ball rolling for Africa's shift to electric mobility. The partnership between Uber and Opibus seeks to accelerate that shift.
(Alex Pitkin, Opibus Chief Technology Officer ((English, 22 secs ))
“We are just excited to get as many people exposed to the new technology that we built as possible so they know that it's an option. Uber provides obviously a lot of boda boda riders, that’s our target client. They often don’t know how beneficial electric motorcycles can be in terms of money saving, safety, fuel savings, maintenance savings, you know that kind of thing. And longevity of the product as well, they don’t know that.
((VIDEO-VOA: WORK GOING ON AT OPIBUS WORKSHOP, TESTING OF ASSEMBLED BIKE AT THE WORKSHOP-various))
((NARRATOR))
Across the world, there is a movement toward electric vehicles due to rising pollution and climate-damaging emissions from vehicles.
((Lucy Mugala, Opibus Engineer (English, 18 secs))
“Targeting Africa and African countries is also part of that movement, and as Opibus, that is where we are targeting. We want all of us to move together. We all move towards a greener energy, a greener economy. And we can only do that if we all come together and empower and build capacity locally."
((NARRATOR)
Mutiso says he is making more money now.
((Josephat Mutiso, Motorcycle Taxi Driver (English, 9 secs))
“Everything I used to earn and save for the maintenance of the bike, right now I’m saving it. So right now, I’m making more.”
((VIDEO-VOA: MUTISO CHANGING BATTERY ON HIS ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE, MUTISO DRIVING AWAYS-various))
((NARRATOR))
Experts say that a global move to electric mobility is essential in the future and drivers like Mutiso will benefit.
((Juma Majanga, for VOA News, Nairobi))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Topic TagsUber
Kenya
ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateDecember 28, 2021 14:45 EST
Brand / Language ServiceUS Agency for Global Media
