10/02/2026
🌍 TUMCS goes Nairobi: Exploring Motorbike Electrification in Nairobi 🛵⚡
During 2 intense weeks, Master thesis students Joost Muller and Moritz Arnold, together with their supervisor Katharina EIchinger from TUMCS’ professorship for Innovation & Technology Management explored Kenya's vibrant electric transport sector. Interviews with startups, NGOs, local associations, policymakers, and motorbike riders alsongside two focus-group discussions with riders highlighted various opportunities for the ecosystem, while also revealing trade-offs across economic, social and environmental dimensions.
Joost was "inspired by the triple bottom line impacts of motorbike electrification on Kenyan riders and how this knowledge can inform policy and business strategy" while Moritz was impressed by "the structured approach of industry associations to political advocacy that foster exchange across the ecosystem on policy development".
The team thanks all interview partners for sharing their perspectives. These personal encounters made the stay in Kenya both inspiring and memorable. The researchers look forward to making results accessible to the academic and practitioner community.