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From crisis to clean revolution: Mali’s electric motorcycles

02:52

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February 10, 2026

In Mali’s fuel crisis, one young mechanic found an alternative way of powering Mali’s ubiquitous Jakarta motorbikes—it’s green, clean and has added benefits.

In Mali, the jihadist fuel blockade is hitting hard, bringing the West African country close to a standstill. People have to wait hours for gasoline, often going away empty-handed. Now one resourceful young mechanic in Bamako has come up with an alternative way of powering motorbikes. And what started as a hobby has become a business. Unlike vehicles that run off fossil fuel, his e-motorbikes are green and clean, emitting fewer greenhouse gases than their conventional counterparts. This inventive mechanic is doing his bit to help the environment and keep Mali's crippled economy going. 

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