The social distancing measures adopted to combat the Coronavirus pandemic around the world are having serious economic repercussions. Tourism, an economic activity with a social impact, based on the interaction between people, is among the most affected sectors. Most countries have suspended travel in order to limit the spread of the virus.
In Namibia, one of the companies paying a high price for this situation is called E-bikes4africa. This startup, which specialises in the manufacture, rental and sale of e-bikes, had made tourism its preferred terrain. The company had found many buyers there, through the electric bike circuits, which offer an ecotourism experience. Once confronted with the slowdown of tourism in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, and the lack of financial means to develop in rural areas, the company was forced to make a choice: die or adapt. “We chose to adapt, and as we already had a fleet of rental electric bikes available, we decided to make the most of our current resources, considering them as delivery vehicles in Windhoek,” said Marita Walther, co-founder of E-Bikes4Africa.
In urban areas, the containment measures adopted to combat Coronavirus have indeed boosted online shopping services, and this has led to a boom in the need for home deliveries. It is in this context that E-Bikes4Africa wants to position its electric bicycle as a pioneer in home delivery. The added value of its product being the guarantee of carbon-free mobility.
“E-bikes” is an electric bicycle equipped with a battery and a motor that provides the cyclist with additional support when climbing a slope or covering long distances. In addition, the bike’s batteries are powered by solar energy and can be recharged free of charge by the sun.
This carbon-free mobility solution is already being tested beyond Namibia’s borders. After delivering three copies to Uganda, the startup E-Bikes4Africa, founded in 2015 by the couple Marita and Bernhard Walther, is currently finalising a development project for Southern Africa.
Boris Ngounou