Spiro reacts to public outcry over safety of e-motorcycles

E-mobility company Spiro has reacted to the recent concerns raised by motorists over brake and battery issues affecting its e-bikes, admitting that while some problems exist, they have been “blown out of proportion.” The company which has thousands of its motorcycles engaged in public transport in the country, has recently faced backlash over “faulty brakes,” with some motorists claiming the defects have led to accidents. ALSO READ: How govt, companies and banks are driving EV uptake An official at the company told The New Times that such technical issues can occur with any type of vehicle, and that Spiro is working closely with relevant institutions to resolve them, through among other ways, providing additional training to riders as they transition from fuel-powered to electric motorcycles. “We think issues have been blown out of proportion. Every mobility, even cars can have issues. But also, we have to realise that most of the taxi-moto riders are transitioning from fuel motorbikes to e-mobility ones. So, sometimes they don’t know how to manage them well,” said Innocent Ihinda, Country Head of Communications of Spiro. He added: “That is why we are running a sensitisation campaign. We are not putting the blame on them (the riders), but we are trying our best to work closely with them so that we sort out any issues that they may have,” he added. ALSO READ: How serious are safety concerns around Spiro electric motorcycles? He also pointed out that the company is working closely with government entities including the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Ministry of Infrastructure to see how the problems can be solved. Government institutions, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), have said they are closely monitoring concerns raised by riders of Spiro electric motorcycles. In a joint follow-up statement released on Tuesday, November 11, MINICOM said it was working with the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), and the Ministry of Infrastructure to ensure that all complaints are addressed.

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Spiro reacts to public outcry over safety of e-motorcycles