This country plans to give free electric motorcycles to all current motorcycle riders
We’ve covered plenty of tax incentives and rebates to make electric motorcycles and other EVs more affordable. But this is the first time we’ve seen a country give out EVs for free as a way to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The title of the first country to make such a bold move goes to Uganda, where President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made the announcement during his year-end national address.
According to Museveni, the government will provide electric motorcycles as a trade-in for any Ugandans currently riding ICE-powered motorcycles.
The Ugandan government won’t have to fund the large program itself, as news reports quoted the president as attributing the capital to “investors”:
We have agreed with some investors, to take away the petrol ones and give the owners the electric ones. This swap will save motorcycle operators 50% of the cost.
Those investors will reportedly be granted licenses to operate charging and battery swap stations, which would be used to recoup their investment.
The electric motorcycles are domestically-produced Ugandan models that generally retail for around 5 million Ugandan Shillings (approximately US $1,350).
They’re commonly used by boda bodas, which are motorcycle taxis that are popular in much of Africa. Whereas in someplaces you might hail an Uber or Lyft to go meet up with friends, in Uganda, it is common to hop on the back of a motorcycle taxi and be quickly whisked to your destination (though Uber actually also operates a boda boda service in Uganda — go figure).
Many African nations have pushed to electrify these large motorcycle fleets, but Uganda’s announcement marks the single largest program yet designed to replace all ICE-powered motorcycles in a country.
In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, electric motorcycles are likely to help support the independent motorcycle taxi operators with lower operating costs. Ugandan Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Monica Musenero, put the operational cost savings as even higher than the President’s figures:
These bikes are 60% cheaper to operate than the current ones because they don’t take fuel. Charging the motorbike takes a very small fraction. They don’t have a lot of serviceable parts and the operator gets a lot more money. Because they are made here, we are taking care of safety measures and local circumstances. For example, if it is stolen, it will report to us and we will be able to switch it off. If you try to remove parts, it will report. This will enhance security of the motorcycle.
The motorcycles are designed for urban operation and, thus, don’t have very long ranges. A single charge is capable of providing around 70 km (43 miles) of range.
For that reason, the motorcycles rely on a network of charging and battery swap stations. Companies, like Zembo, already operate over a dozen charging and swapping stations in the country’s capital of Kampala.
According to Musenero, additional stations are already going up to reach further out of town.
Three have already been set up along Masaka road in Buwama, Lukaya and Masaka city. The most expensive component of the electric motorcycle is the battery and to this, the rider doesn’t have to own the battery. They will be leasing the batteries. When running low, the rider will go to the next charging station to change it and pay some money to get another one and leave the one which is low at the station.
The model sounds somewhat similar to Gogoro’s well-known battery swapping electric scooters. Riders don’t actually own the battery but, instead, subscribe to Gogoro’s battery swapping plan that allows them to swap at local battery stations.
There are thousands of such battery swap stations in Taiwan, and Gogoro is quickly expanding the model internationally.
Museveni added that other electric vehicles will also be receiving incentives to encourage rapid electrification.
As he explained:
We are working on plans to shift to electric buses, electric cars and electric motorcycles. The shift in transport vehicles is not only in respect of motorcycles. It also involves the buses, cars, mini-buses, pick-ups, etc.
Electrek’s Take
This is an interesting way to create an incentive to replace polluting vehicles with efficient EVs. Instead of incentivizing the end customers with discounts, like we normally see in the West, Uganda is somehow incentivizing the companies that make the motorcycles and operate the battery swap stations.
It’s sort of like the old razor and cartridge model — get the razor handle for free and become a razor cartridge shopper for life. But in this case, it’s sort of a win-win-win, in that Uganda reduces pollution, motorcycle owners reduce their costs, and motorcycle/battery companies get a huge influx of customers to use their battery swapping stations.
I just hope the math works out here because it almost sounds too good to be true.
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Acura is bringing back the RSX, but you wouldn’t recognize it. It’s now a sporty electric SUV, and a fairly impressive one at that. It’s also the first electric vehicle built on Honda’s new Zero global EV platform.
Honda’s all-electric vehicle offering is quite limited – especially in North America.
It only sells the Prologue and Accura ZDX, which are based on GM’s Equinox EV. In Asia and Europe, the Japanese automaker has more electric models, but its efforts are still very much fragmented.
Now, it is preparing to launch a series of new EVs based on its in-house global EV platform: Zero.
Today, Acura is unveiling what should become the first vehicle on the platform: the Acura RSX concept.
This is still only a concept, but Acura says that it’s a good preview for the final vehicle that will go into production at Honda’s new EV hub in Ohio during the second half of 2026.
It will be built on the same production line as the Acura Integra, which can get a bit confusing since the name RSX was also used for the Integra in some markets during the original run in the 90s.
But the name is about the only thing that the current Integra and the RSX concept share. You won’t confuse the sporty sedan with this all-electric performance SUV.
Lance Woelfer, vice president of Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co, commented on the new concept:
“The dramatic styling of our Acura RSX Prototype demonstrates that it’s not just a new EV, but a compelling all-new Acura model. RSX will deliver on nearly four decades of Acura Precision Crafted Performance brand DNA with appealing design and cutting-edge technology.”
Acura took advantage of the freedom given by the new EV platform it’s based on and delivered a vehicle with a sleek yet aggressive design.
Yasutake Tsuchida, Acura Creative Director and vice president of American Honda R&D, said that the design aimed at “excellent aerodynamic” performance:
“The Acura RSX has a sporty coupe style that expresses the performance that comes from excellent aerodynamics. Starting from this all-new RSX we will redefine the Acura brand around timeless beauty and a high-tech feel that is essential for a performance and unique brand.”
For now, the design is the primary information available about the Acura RSX, as the company hasn’t shared specifications yet. I am with Acura at the Monterey Car Week for the next few days, and I’ll do my best to gather more details.
In the meantime, we know that it will be equipped with a potent dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, sport-tuned double wishbone front suspension, a low center-of-gravity and Brembo brakes, and Acura is talking about all this being standard in the new RSX.
Acura is also talking about having “the brand’s top-of-class driver assistive technologies.”
The RSX is also set to be the first vehicle equipped with Honda’s new ASIMO operating system.
Acura said about ASIMO:
With the ability to run various applications on the Acura RSX, similar to operating systems found on smartphones, ASIMO OS will offer a personalized experience that will enhance the joy of driving and the ownership experience. ASIMO OS will utilize OTA updates to bring new customizable features and services to the RSX to enhance the ownership experience.
It will also have machine learning capabilities, enabling it to learn about how you like to use your car and personalize to your specifications.
Last but not least, Acura has already confirmed that the RSX will be capable of bi-directional charging. The details are not available yet, but the automaker is talking about powering devices from the vehicle (V2X) and providing back power to your home (V2H).
The prototype is at Pebble Beach this week if you want to check it out. We certainly will, and we will report back with more.
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A new report claimed that Lucid Motors’ (LCID) new Gravity SUV had just nine registrations in its first six months. Lucid denied the rumors, telling us Gravity deliveries are “well into the 3-digit range.”
Lucid denies rumors of slow Gravity SUV sales
There’s no denying that the Gravity is an impressive electric SUV. It can drive up to 450 miles on a single charge and has more interior space than a Ford Explorer. With up to 828 hp, it’s also faster than most sports cars.
However, a new Automotive News report claimed the Gravity only managed to secure nine registrations in its first six months on the market, citing S&P Global Mobility data.
Nick Twork, Lucid’s head of communications, confirmed in an email to Electrek that the claim is “completely inaccurate.”
Twork added that “a quick review of social media postings from our customers shows that those numbers are simply not credible.” Although Lucid doesn’t provide a breakdown, Gravity deliveries are “well into the 3-digit range,” he said.
In the second half of the year, Lucid expects the Gravity SUV to account for the majority of production and deliveries.
The EV maker anticipates a significant ramp-up in production during the second half of the year. On the company’s second-quarter earnings call, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said that after overcoming most of the supply chain issues, including the industry-wide magnet shortage, the company was “beginning to ramp up Lucid Gravity production.”
Winterhoff added that “our daily order rate has nearly doubled” since introducing Gravity models in its studios and offering test drives.
If it weren’t for Lucid’s quick actions, the company would have had to halt production in the second quarter. Instead, Lucid produced just over 6,000 vehicles in the second quarter.
During an interview with CNBC the following day, Lucid’s CEO stated that the company now has the raw materials, earth magnets, and licensing for the remainder of the year.
Lucid has reduced its production goal for 2025 from 20,000 to between 18,000 and 20,000 units. The company cited a changing market as the reason for the updated range.
The EV maker also scored a partnership with Uber and Nuro to launch 20,000 Gravity robotaxis over the next six years. Uber is investing $300 million into Lucid as part of the deal.
Meanwhile, Lucid’s Air remained the best-selling luxury electric sedan in the US. The Air outsold the Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan, and even most gas models in its segment in the first half of 2025.
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Ford’s next “Model T” is a midsize electric pickup that will start at around $30,000. The new model will be the first of a family of affordable electric vehicles based on the new Ford Universal EV Platform. As Ford shifts to lower-cost EVs, a few popular SUVs you may recognize are getting axed.
Ford’s new $30,000 EV pickup will replace gas SUVs
At its Louisville, Kentucky, plant on Monday (see our recap of the event), Ford revealed plans to build a new midsize EV pickup, claiming it will have a lower cost of ownership than a Tesla Model Y.
It will also have more interior space, thanks to its new “Ford Universal EV Platform,” which was also unveiled during the event.
The platform will underpin a series of new affordable electric cars that Ford promises will compete with the best. Ford is set to begin production of the new midsize EV pickup in 2027 at the Louisville Assembly plant, meaning it will need to clear room.
Ford currently builds the Escape and Lincoln Corsair at the facility, both of which will be retired. The Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair will officially be discontinued after the 2026 model year.
The announcement came as a shock to some, as the Escape is Ford’s second-best-selling SUV, behind the Explorer. It even outsold the Bronco Sport in the first half of the year (82,589 vs 72,438).
The Corsair is the second-best-selling Lincoln brand model through June, behind the Nautilus, with 13,096 units sold.
Although production is slated to end later this year, Ford confirmed the SUVs will continue to be sold well into 2026.
Ford has invested around $5 billion in its Louisville Assembly Complex, creating nearly 4,000 jobs, as it prepares for its next generation of electric vehicles. It will begin with Ford’s new midsize EV pickup, which is expected to launch in 2027 with a starting price of around $30,000.
Source: Car and Driver, Ford
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