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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After launching a wave of new electric SUVs, sedans, crossovers, and vans, Kia is about to hit a big milestone. Kia’s EV series is expected to cross over 500,000 in cumulative global sales this month.
After Hyundai hit the half-million mark with its IONIQ series in January, it looks like Kia is right behind it. It’s been five years since Kia launched its first dedicated EV, the EV6, but the growth is expected to quickly pick up from here.
Kia set a new record, selling over 1.5 million vehicles globally in the first half of 2025. The Korean automaker credited the growth to the arrival of new models, including the EV3.
The EV3, Kia’s compact electric SUV, is already the sixth-best-selling EV in Europe through June, having arrived late last year. With over 35,000 units sold, the EV3 trails only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, as well as Volkswagen’s ID.4, ID.7, and ID.3.
According to local reports, Kia is expected to cross 500,000 in cumulative global EV sales this month. With 485,055 EVs sold so far, the company is about to join the half-million club.
Kia’s EV sales are expected to top 500,000 this month
Kia’s EV sales have been climbing in recent years from 29,482 in 2021, to 83,411 in 2022, 131,242 in 2023, and 124,835 last year. This year, Kia has already sold over 116,000 EVs, but with new models rolling out, it could see even higher numbers.
The EV6 is Kia’s top-selling EV with 282,639 cumulative sales, followed by the EV3 (101,162), EV9 (79,312), and EV5 (18,621).
Kia launched several new EVs, including the EV4, EV5, and PV5, that are expected to drive even more demand over the next few months. The EV4 is Kia’s first electric sedan. In Europe, it’s also sold as an electric hatchback.
Meanwhile, the PV5 is the first from Kia’s new PBV electric van business. During its PV5 Tech Day event this week, Kia revealed plans for seven new body types based on the electric van, from camper to pickup.
Kia has already opened orders for the EV4 (sedan and hatchback) and PV5 in the UK. They will be rolling out in Europe later this year. Although the hatch isn’t expected to make the trip overseas, Kia is launching the EV4 sedan in the US in early 2026.
Following the EV4 and EV5 this year, Kia will introduce the EV2 in Europe and other global markets in 2026. The EV2 is Kia’s new compact, entry-level electric SUV.
Source: ChosunBiz, Kia
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Solid-state battery developer QuantumScape has posted its quarterly fiscal report and letter to shareholders for Q2 2025. QuantumScape’s progress update includes an expanded agreement with Volkswagen Group’s battery business, PowerCo, and a new joint development agreement with an additional OEM.
As far as quarterly updates go, I personally look forward to the letter to shareholders from QuantumScape ($QS) four times a year. The solid-state battery developer continues to improve its technology and production techniques, pushing closer than ever to delivering mass-produced energy-dense cells to market.
Last month, QuantumScape reported that its proprietary Cobra solid-state separator process had been fully integrated into its baseline production processes, achieving a 2025 goal while enabling gigawatt-level solid-state cell production.
QS said the Cobra breakthrough is expected to lay the groundwork for higher-volume B1 sample production of its flagship QSE-5 cells, which will eventually lead to scaled production for the battery market.
Furthermore, the technology supports QuantumScape’s licensing model with PowerCo, a division of Volkswagen Group, which was announced a little over a year ago. As part of its Q2 2025 report, QuantumScape shared details of an expanded deal with PowerCo among several other exciting updates.
Partnerships, Volkswagen AG; Dennis Segers, QS Board Chairman; Jupp Kaufer, VP of Product Management and Corporate Quality, PowerCo / Source: QuantumScape
QuantumScape ended Q2 2025 with runway through 2029
All details outlined below are available in QuantumScape’s Q2 2025 Letter to Shareholders. Per the company, its capital expenditures were $8.3 million in Q2, primarily spend on facilities and equipment purchases to
prepare for higher-volume QSE-5 B1 sample production using the Cobra separator process mentioned above.
GAAP operating expenses and GAAP net loss in Q2 were $123.6 million and $114.7 million, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA loss was $63 million in Q2 (in line with expectations). Per the letter:
We continue to streamline operations consistent with the company’s capital-light licensing focus and capture gains from cost reduction initiatives and process improvement, including the Cobra process. We narrow the range of our full-year guidance for Adjusted EBITDA loss to $250M – $270M. We ended Q2 with $797.5M in liquidity and extend our guidance for cash runway into 2029, a six month improvement over our previous guidance. Any additional funds from other customer inflows or capital markets activity would further extend this cash runway.
As hinted above, QuantumScape’s Q2 2025 update also included news of an expanded deal with PowerCo, which entails the latter company contributing an additional $131 million to the former over the next two years. That amount will come in addition to the original $130 million committed by Volkswagen Group’s battery arm if and when QS delivers “satisfactory technical progress and execution of the full licensing agreement.”
In exchange for the additional funding, QuantumScape will prioritize QSE-5 cells manufactured on its San Jose pilot line to support its joint development agreement with PowerCo. That said, QS still maintains a non-exclusive arrangement and has the right to provide cells to our other customers.
Speaking of which!
QuantumScape’s Q2 2025 report also includes news of an additional joint development agreement (JDA) with “another major global automotive OEM.” Although QS did not name the OEM, it did say the JDA builds off an existing relationship, as the client was a solid-state sample customer. Unfortunately, QS keeps that client list close to its chest, so we’d rather not speculate on who the new joint development partner could be, but it’s exciting news nonetheless.
Looking ahead beyond Q2, QuantumScape is set on its second goal for 2025 – installing higher-volume cell production equipment to support scaled solid-state cell production. From there, QS is looking to ship more samples of its prototype cells and has shared a more concrete timeline for actual field testing. Per the letter:
We are working closely with our launch customer, and in Q2 we shipped QSE-5 cells for pack integration and testing, including safety testing. These cells were the final Raptor-based B0 samples to be shipped; future shipments will be Cobra-based B1 samples, in line with our third annual goal. This launch program is designed to be a low-volume, high-visibility project that will allow us to put our cells into a real-world vehicle application and generate customer feedback. We continue to target 2026 for the beginning of field testing.
That’s all for now. Be sure to check back with Electrek soon for the latest solid-state battery and other electric mobility news.
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The “holy grail” of electric vehicle battery tech may be here sooner than you’d think. Mercedes-Benz is testing EVs with solid-state batteries on the road, promising to deliver over 600 miles of range. Here’s when you can expect to see it hit the market.
Mercedes moves to launch EVs with solid-state batteries
Earlier this year, Mercedes marked a massive milestone, putting “the first car powered by a lithium-metal solid-state battery on the road” for testing. Mercedes has been testing prototypes in the UK since February.
The company used a modified EQS prototype, equipped with the new batteries and other parts. The battery pack was developed by Mercedes-Benz and its Formula 1 supplier unit, Mercedes AMG High-Performance Powertrains (HPP)
Mercedes is teaming up with US-based Factorial Energy to bring the new battery tech to market. In September, Factorial and Mercedes revealed the all-solid-state Solstice battery.
The new batteries, promising a 25% range improvement, will power the German automaker’s next-generation electric vehicles.
According to Markus Schäfer, the automaker’s head of development, the first Mercedes EVs powered by solid-state batteries could be here by 2030.
During an event in Copenhagen, Schäfer told German auto news outlet Automobilwoche, “We expect to bring the technology into series production before the end of the year.”
In addition to providing a longer driving range, Mercedes believes the new batteries can significantly reduce costs. Schäfer said current batteries won’t suffice, adding, “At the core, a new chemistry is needed.” Mercedes and Factorial are using a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, said to be safer and more efficient.
Mercedes claims the new battery can extend driving range by around 25%. With the Mercedes EQS 450+ rated with a WTLP range of 511 miles, that would suggest over 620 miles of range.
Factorial is collaborating with other leading OEMs, including Hyundai and Stellantis, to introduce solid-state EV batteries to the market by 2030.
Several others, including Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, are all advancing the promising new batteries. And don’t forget BYD and CATL, which are already dominating global sales, are also quickly advancing new EV batteries, including solid-state.
Earlier this week, MG’s brand manager, Chen Cui, claimed that the new MG4 will be the first mass-market EV sold globally with semi-solid-state batteries.
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