Back in March 2022, we learned that taxi app Little was planning to launch an e-bike. This was at a time when the industry was busy with the launch of electric vehicles. Around the same period, BasiGo had launched two electric buses, but on a pilot basis in Nairobi. OpiBus, which has since been renamed ROAM, had also revealed plans to launch 10 electric buses. The development, according to the company, should be here before the end of the year.
Now back to Little’s e-bikes. Little said it was piloting the service on one of the campuses of the University of Nairobi. The plan was to bring the e-bikes to all major universities in the country. The company had also said it had a team on the ground for charging the bikes. On a full charge, the bikes can cover a range of 40 km.
The latest development from the company has been announced, and it would seem like Little is taking a different approach to launch. At first, Little said it would target university students. However, the company’s CEO Kamal Budhabhatti has hinted that the bikes will be available to all. The model, Kamal says, will allow just anyone to order the e-bicycle. Then, Little will educate customers about its operations, including charging.
The customer can then use the bike for the number of days they want. Once you are done ‘borrowing’ it, Little will take it back.
The long- and short-term rental model had not been revealed before. We do not know how much it is going to cost, but we will update this story as soon as we know more.
And oh, you can even rent it for a day because you don’t have to use it for an extended period.
Electric vehicles
Asked if Little is planning to electrify its e-cab business, CEO Kamal says that there is no such plan in the pipeline. ‘Electric cars are not something that we are looking at currently. But it can change based on the market dynamics,’ he says.
Still, what do you think of the plan?
