Zeno raises $25M to speed up production of its battery-swap motorbikes

The EV modulation mightiness person deed a hurdle successful the U.S., but it’s not slowing down successful East Africa, wherever respective startups are vying for a portion of the burgeoning electrical motorbike market.

Zeno is 1 of those companies, and this week it announced a $25 cardinal Series A to grow its app-controlled battery-swap web and nutrient much of its Emara motorcycles.

About $20.5 cardinal of the full was an equity fundraise, Zeno co-founder and CEO Michael Spencer told TechCrunch. It was led by Congruent Ventures with information from Active Impact and Lowercarbon Ventures. The remaining $4.5 cardinal is simply a indebtedness installation from Camber Road and Trifecta Capital.

Zeno had antecedently raised a $9.5 cardinal effect circular led by Lowercarbon Ventures and Toyota Ventures.

Since emerging from stealth a-year-and-a-half ago, Zeno has built much than 800 of its Emara motorbikes and acceptable up much than 150 charging locations crossed 4 countries successful East Africa.

The Zeno Emara has a agelong spot to transportation passengers and cargo.Image Credits:Zeno /

Motorbikes are a cornerstone of proscription successful the region, and Zeno is betting that it tin pull riders by offering 50% little operating costs than interior combustion bikes. The institution said much than 25,000 retail and fleet customers are waiting to get their hands connected an Emara, and it’s producing astir 70 to 80 bikes per week. The caller circular volition beryllium utilized to fulfill that demand. 

The Emara tin thrust astir 100 kilometers (60 miles) connected a azygous complaint and tin transportation up to 250 kilograms (550 pounds), Zeno says. The motorcycle sells for astir $1,300 without a battery, and astir $2,000 with.

The motorcycle provides 8 kilowatts of highest power, astir the aforesaid arsenic a 150 cc interior combustion engine, but due to the fact that each of its torque is disposable from a standstill, it tin spell up steep hills afloat laden — a boon for bodaboda operators, who routinely ferry passengers and cargo connected bikes.

Customers who forgo the artillery astatine acquisition tin subscribe to a monthly oregon pay-per-use plan. They tin complaint the bikes astatine location oregon astatine 1 of Zeno’s swap stations. 

Similar to Slate Auto successful the U.S., Zeno is selling a scope of accessories and wraps truthful buyers tin customize their rides.

To sweeten the deal, Zeno besides plans to connection a artillery dock that homes and businesses tin usage to powerfulness lights and appliances. The dock is presently being prototyped, Spencer said, and astir a twelve customers are investigating the product.

If Zeno tin commercialize the artillery dock, it could entrench itself successful the region’s electrical infrastructure. Much of East Africa’s powerfulness grid is successful mediocre shape, which has provided an opening for companies to supply much modular powerfulness products. Some are helping develop mini- and microgrids, portion others similar Zeno are betting that portable, modular batteries volition find a imperishable niche. 

When Spencer co-founded the company, helium drew inspiration from his erstwhile employer, Tesla, and its archetypal maestro plan, which sought to deploy EVs and cleanable powerfulness astatine scale. The idea, helium told maine successful 2024, “has much legs and much country to tally with little hurdles successful emerging markets.”