Following a successful launch of electric vehicles in Malawi in 2023, Sky Energy Africa has taken another step towards expanding electric mobility with the launch of Sky eRIDE, an electric vehicle taxi service.
Launched in Lilongwe on 30 October 2026, the initiative includes a fleet of 100 electric vehicles, plans for 40 public fast-charging stations and a digital mobility platform known as Sky eRide.
The service is expected to offer an alternative to conventional transport in a country where fuel shortages and high transport costs affect commuters.
Schizzo Thomson, founder and managing director of Sky Energy Africa, said the company wanted to improve how people access transportation through technology.
Malawi has been experiencing severe fuel shortages in recent months, with motorists spending days queuing at filling stations as efforts by government officials to stabilise supplies continue.
While electric vehicles have previously been associated with private ownership, particularly among wealthier individuals and corporate institutions, Thomson said the greatest impact of the taxis would be making modern, reliable transportation accessible to a much broader section of the population.
“Through Sky eRide, Malawians will be able to enjoy the benefits of electric mobility without having to purchase or own an electric vehicle,” Schizzo Thomson, founder and managing director of Sky Energy Africa, told ITWeb Africa.
The company aims to open customer bookings on 1 December 2026. Passengers will be able to book rides, view estimated fares before travelling, track their assigned vehicles and complete payments digitally.
“It also means reducing the uncertainty associated with finding reliable transport, particularly for airport transfers, business appointments, hotel transfers and everyday urban travel,” Thomson said.
Thomson said electric vehicles provided an economic advantage because their operating costs were lower than those of conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. Electricity costs per kilometre can be significantly lower than fuel costs.
The company therefore aims to translate these operational efficiencies into competitive passenger fares, rather than positioning electric taxis as a premium service reserved for wealthy customers.
While electricity supply also presents challenges, Thomson said integrating grid-connected charging with renewable energy and energy storage solutions could help build a more resilient transport network.
Sky Energy Africa previously introduced electric vehicles to the Malawian market in 2023. Its latest initiative extends that offering from vehicle deployment to an integrated transport service incorporating vehicles, charging infrastructure and digital bookings.
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