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Tag: Kofa

  • Ghana-Based Kofa’s Cost-Effective Batteries Powers West Africa

    Ghana-Based Kofa’s Cost-Effective Batteries Powers West Africa

    Ghanaian startup Kofa, known for its innovative battery network solutions and e-motorcycles, is making significant strides in the clean-tech sector. 

    The company has revealed plans to expand its groundbreaking battery-swapping system to Kenya and Togo with a high-capacity battery system called Kore2. This battery is versatile and caters to a wide range of applications.

    The company aims to create an affordable, customer-centric electricity network powered by portable batteries and renewable energy. Kofa’s core innovation lies in providing high-performance power through its batteries, which are cost-effective (at least 30% more competitive than petrol) and adaptable for various uses.

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    Partnership with TAIL-G

    Kofa has partnered with globally recognised e-motorcycle manufacturer TAIL-G to design the Jidi e-motorcycle that is tailored explicitly for the African market.

    The Jidi e-motorcycle, powered by Kofa’s Kore2 battery, offers a range of over 100 kilometres on a full charge, addressing the region’s mobility needs sustainably.

    Kofa’s role is to ensure the motorcycles’ efficiency through its Kore2 Swap and Go Network. Autopax Limited, a subsidiary of Green Africa Group, will assemble the bikes and source some parts within Kenya.

    Kofa partners MAX

    Kofa has also partnered with Nigeria’s African electric vehicle solutions leader, MAX. This partnership will allow MAX to provide financing options for over 2,000 Jidi bikes, making them more accessible to users.

    Unlike companies that import ready-made electric vehicles, Kofa’s founding team focused on developing the proper infrastructure for electric vehicles in West Africa.

    Their goal is to address the problems caused by existing petrol systems, whether it’s small businesses struggling with expensive petrol generators or delivery drivers using polluting motorbikes.

    Read also: Nigeria tech startups: Five remedies to funding shortage

    Kofa began its operations in Ghana in 2021 with the Volta motorcycle, deploying 40 units across Accra to gather market insights.

    The second version, the Jidi, has deployed over 10 charging stations, 500 Kore2 batteries, and 150 Jidi motorcycles since January.

    Kofa plans to operate in four cities with an additional 7,000 bikes in the pipeline.

    Kofa secured seed funding from the Shell Foundation supported by the UK’s FCDO, Wangara Green Ventures, and Mercy Corps Ventures. The company is expanding its operations to Kenya and Togo, bringing its cost-effective Kore2 battery-swapping network for electric bikes to these countries.

  • Energy startup, Kofa secures funding for sustainable energy in Africa

    Energy startup, Kofa secures funding for sustainable energy in Africa

    Kofa, an energy technology firm based in Ghana and the United Kingdom, has received seed capital to propel it towards achieving its aim of providing access to sustainable energy for 10 million users across Africa and offsetting 10 million tonnes of CO2 each year.

    In addition to a number of well-known angel investors, Mercy Corps Ventures, the Shell Foundation, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), and Wangara Green Ventures were the primary contributors to this round of investment.

    The money will enable Kofa to accelerate its growth into numerous cities across Ghana by using its upgraded second-generation products. This is in accordance with the company’s aim of developing an inexpensive, sustainable, and customer-centric electrical network based on swappable batteries, and it will enable Kofa to get one step closer to realising that vision.

    Read also: AVEVA, Azule Energy partner to enable world-class digital operations

    According to the Stats, the continent of Africa is home to around 30 million moto-taxis, which spend an astounding $100 billion annually on fuel, which comes out to $11 per day each bike. Kofa has the ability to capitalise on a great business opportunity presented by the possibility of converting these riders to electric bikes.

    The combustion of fossil fuels is responsible for a significant portion of the greenhouse effect. In fact, fossil fuels are responsible for more than 75 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and approximately 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

     

    Kofa’s Plans

    Beginning with mobility, Kofa provides a creative answer to the problem of converting Africa’s more than 30 million gas-powered motorcycles into electric vehicles (EVs). At the same time, the company gives consumers new uses for the battery throughout the course of the battery’s lifespan.

    Among these applications are serving as a backup for the grid at home, providing an alternative to the grid in suburban shops to power retailer appliances, and other uses.

    Kofa’s battery swap-and-go services allow users, such as motorbike riders, to easily replace dead batteries for fully charged ones at charging stations that are strategically situated in key places inside the major cities of Ghana. These charging stations are deliberately located in key sections of the cities.

     

    What Occurs After This

    By securing this preliminary finance, the company intends to demonstrate the viability of its intelligent battery-swapping network and lay a solid foundation for its continued expansion in the years to come.

    Kofa expects that the proper execution of its purpose will have a beneficial influence on the lives of millions of people while simultaneously generating savings to customers of around $2 billion annually.

     

    Remarks from Toffene Kama.

    The revolutionary potential of Kofa’s wireless energy solutions is emphasised by Toffene Kama, an Investment Principal of Mercy Corps Ventures.

    “These batteries are packets of energy going cableless, just like the mobile phone went wireless and conquered the whole of Africa a decade ago,” said Toffene Kama.

    About Kofa

    The term “Go get it” is derived from the Akan phrase “Sankofa,” which means “Go back and get it.” Kofa means “Go get it.”

    This a name that is appropriate for the company, as they are comprised of genuine go-getters and have a strong ambition to both learn from their history and design for the future.

    The members of Kofa’s team are worried about the environmental problems that our world is currently facing. They believe that Africa will play a leading role in making the world a better place by re-engineering a large number of the legacy systems that enable energy access, transportation, and other areas of concern.

    This organisation is feeling more confident as a result of the prospects that have presented themselves in the areas of environmental sustainability, expanding access to green energy, and enhancing people’s health, prosperity, and happiness.

    By collaborating closely with its stakeholders, consumers, and communities, Kofa will be able to accomplish this goal through the use of their technology.