Food delivery startup Glovo has teamed up with EV manufacturer Siltech to use electric bikes for deliveries in parts of Lagos, Nigeria. This partnership aims to help Glovo save on fuel and maintenance costs associated with traditional petrol-powered motorcycles.
Though Glovo hasn’t started using Siltech’s EV services yet, Siltech sees this as a promising trial. With petrol prices soaring in Nigeria, many businesses, including Glovo, are exploring electric vehicles (EVs) as a cheaper alternative.
Siltech’s CEO, Tolu Williams, confirmed that Glovo will use Siltech’s charging stations, after-sales services, technical support, and battery swap facilities. The pilot program will begin in Ikate, Lekki, and Victoria Island, where has established these services. The battery swap stations are particularly efficient, allowing riders to replace a depleted battery with a fully charged one in just minutes.
Under the partnership terms, Glovo will pay for Siltech’s services at a discounted rate, making it more cost-effective than using petrol. Although the agreement is in place, a Glovo spokesperson noted that deliveries with the new EV bikes will start in a few months.
Williams expects significant cost reductions for Glovo once the EV services begin, thanks to the comprehensive support Siltech will provide.
Siltech has recently expanded from manufacturing EVs to offering a full range of EV services, creating what Williams calls an “EV ecosystem.” This ecosystem is already being used by Tesla owners and other EV users for charging and maintenance.
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