Dodai Builds Battery-Swapping EV Network to Scale E-Mobility in Ethiopia

Yuma Sasaki, Dodai Founder & CEO

E-mobility startup Dodai is building and operating the infrastructure required to make electric vehicles (EVs) practical, affordable, and scalable in Ethiopia. 

Founded in 2023, Dodai focuses primarily on electric two- and three-wheelers, and supports their use through a battery-swapping network that allows drivers to replace depleted batteries in minutes rather than waiting for long charging times. 

By offering vehicles, batteries, and energy infrastructure as part of an integrated system, Dodai removes many of the cost, reliability, and accessibility barriers that have historically limited EV adoption in emerging markets.

“Dodai identified a significant gap between strong policy ambition around electric mobility and the practical realities faced by everyday users. While Ethiopia has abundant renewable power and supportive regulation, charging infrastructure remains limited, electricity access is uneven, and consumers are under significant economic pressure,” Yuma Sasaki, the founder and CEO of Dodai, told Disrupt Africa.

“Many e-mobility solutions imported from developed markets are poorly suited to these conditions, and remain unaffordable or impractical for most users.”

Dodai’s battery-swapping model directly addresses these challenges by prioritising affordability, speed, and reliability. Sasaki said it competes primarily with petrol-powered motorcycles, as there are no other companies building integrated swapping networks at scale. 

“Indeed, one of the reasons we dedicated to start in Ethiopia is because the country has strong fundamentals – Africa’s second largest population, strong growth prospects, and a liberalising economic agenda – but still remains a “blue ocean” with limited competition,” he said. 

Uptake has been driven primarily by economic necessity, says Sasaki. 

“In Ethiopia, as in much of Africa, transport is not a lifestyle choice but a means of earning a living, and users adopt electric mobility when it is clearly cheaper and more reliable than the alternatives. For riders, delivery drivers, and small business owners, the decisive factor is whether a vehicle reduces daily operating costs and keeps them working without interruption,” he said.

“Dodai’s strongest adoption has therefore come from commercial users operating in Addis Ababa, where the company assembles electric motorcycles locally and supports them with a growing battery-swapping network. Drivers who switch from fuel-powered motorcycles to Dodai e-bikes report dramatic savings, in some cases reducing fuel and maintenance costs by between 80-90 per cent These savings translate directly into higher take-home earnings, reduced financial stress, and greater income stability. The reliability of electric motorcycles, which require less maintenance and experience fewer breakdowns, has also enabled drivers to work longer and more predictable hours. For most users, uptake has been motivated by affordability, reliability, and the ability to secure a more stable livelihood.”

For now, the startup is building its battery swapping network in Addis Ababa, but it will shortly move to other major urban hubs in Ethiopia, and also plans to expand to neighbouring African countries that share similar market dynamics. It secured a US$7 million funding round in 2024, which enabled it to accelerate infrastructure deployment, and expand its team. 

“A major milestone has been operating in a market that became the first in the world to ban the import of internal combustion engine vehicles in January 2023, which significantly accelerated interest in electric alternatives, like those provided by Dodai,” Sasaki said.

Dodai generates revenue through selling its e-bikes, as well as battery-swapping fees. 

“As an infrastructure-led company, Dodai is currently prioritising network expansion and utilisation over short-term profitability. Revenues have grown steadily alongside deployment, and unit economics at the battery and fleet level are improving as scale increases,” said Sasaki.

Dodai has faced challenges typical of launching infrastructure-heavy businesses in emerging markets, including uneven electricity access and upfront capital requirements. 

“Supply chain constraints for batteries and components have also required careful planning,” Sasaki said. “However, Ethiopia’s expanding renewable energy capacity and strong policy support have improved the long-term outlook.”

Source: Disrupt Africa