(Business in Cameroon) – Bee Group, a company specializing in urban mobility and freight delivery, is partnering with Chinese manufacturer Tembo Electronical Technology to roll out an electric mobility project in Cameroon. With a budget of $1 million (about CFA610 million), the pilot phase is set to launch in July 2025 with the arrival of 40 electric motorcycles and their charging stations.
Starting in June 2025, 40 electric motorcycles, each equipped with four batteries, will be deployed across Douala, Yaoundé, Bertoua, and Bafoussam—10 per city. “Each motorcycle, priced at around CFA600,000, will have two batteries in use while the other two recharge in stations set up at TotalEnergies and Ola Energy locations,” said Patrick Timani, CEO and co-founder of Bee Group. Each charging station will hold 12 batteries, ensuring a continuous energy supply.
After this test phase, Bee Group plans to import an additional 100 motorcycles and aims to launch local production by 2026. “We want to create local jobs, lower import costs, and transfer technology to Cameroon,” Timani added.
The project is backed by car dealer 3S Motors, TotalEnergies, and the Cameroonian government. Under the 2025 finance law, electric vehicles are exempt from the excise duty, which was previously set at 12.5%. Moreover, a 50% tax reduction applies to the value of new motorcycles, batteries, and charging stations for the next 24 months.
Switching from fuel-powered mototaxis to electric ones offers major savings for drivers. A conventional mototaxi driver currently spends about CFA6,000 per day on fuel, consuming roughly 8.4 liters of gasoline daily. With an electric motorcycle, this cost would drop to around CFA1,600 per day, saving CFA4,400 daily. Over 26 working days per month, that adds up to CFA114,400 in savings.
Maintenance costs will also be lower. Since electric motorcycles do not have combustion engines, there is no need for oil changes, which typically cost between CFA8,000 and CFA12,000 per month.
Beyond cost savings, this initiative will help lower transport fares for passengers and reduce pollution. In Douala, where mototaxis account for 61% of all trips, Bee Group aims to drive a sustainable shift in urban mobility.
After Cameroon, the company plans to expand the project to other African countries, combining innovation, job creation, and environmental responsibility.
