Transport forms the backbone of daily life across sub-Saharan Africa, with motorcycle taxis and two – and three-wheeler delivery services connecting people with essential services including jobs, markets, healthcare and education. However, the sector’s dependence on fossil fuels increases operating costs, contributes to urban air pollution, and hinders emission reduction efforts. Electric mobility has transformative potential to decarbonise transport, reduce costs for riders and strengthen urban infrastructure.

The Powering Renewable Energy Opportunity (PREO) programme, which is co-funded by the UK Government under the Transforming Energy Access platform and the IKEA Foundation, launched its latest report – “Driving Interoperability: Insights from PREO’s E-Mobility Portfolio” at Africa E-Mobility Week 2025. PREO is a programme that promotes the productive use of renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Island Countries to stimulate local economic development. This report uses insights from PREO to examine how interoperability can transform the growth of sub-Saharan Africa’s electric mobility sector.

Drawing on 5 years of investment evidence, PREO’s report identifies some of the limitations of vertically integrated business models that lead to duplicated infrastructure, fragmented supply chains, and underutilised assets. The report advocates solutions based on shared systems that can reduce capital requirements, improve asset utilisation and enhance the user experience. It features case studies from 5 companies demonstrating practical interoperability approaches across infrastructure, battery systems, charging networks and software platforms.

Interoperability enables companies to specialise and collaborate through shared systems that offer a commercially viable pathway to scale. As the e-mobility sector develops, these efficiencies could reduce costs, attract private investment and expand access to clean transport solutions. The PREO report provides valuable evidence to support policymakers, investors and operators working to build inclusive electric mobility ecosystems across Africa.

Visit the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) website and check the Press Notice for further information.