What is an electric bicycle?

An electric bicycle is an ordinary bicycle with a motor, a battery and a controller added. The motor assists the rider’s pedalling rather than replacing it, so the bike is still a bike: one that carries more and climbs better for less effort.

Karaa builds this as a kit rather than a sealed product. A 250W geared hub motor fits to the rear wheel of a standard bicycle on about 26-inch wheels, driven by a removable 36V 14.5 Ah battery (522 Wh on the Range kit) and managed through an app with several assist modes: eco, climbing, manual and cargo. Fitted, it gives 32 km/h assisted, up to 120 km on a charge (50 to 100 km in real use), and 100 kg on the rack.

What it means in this market. Narrower and more useful than the headline suggests. Most transport in East Africa already runs on bicycles, and most places have a weak grid or none. A kit electrifies the bike people already own, and we are developing ways for the same battery to run a pump, lighting or phone charging when it’s off the bike. The kit is assembled locally in Kampala, so it’s fitted and serviced without shipping anything abroad or waiting on imported parts for a repair.

What’s the difference between an electric bicycle and an electric motorcycle?

An electric bicycle keeps you pedalling; the motor assists rather than drives on its own, and it doesn’t need a licence or registration. An electric motorcycle, or a petrol boda boda, carries you without pedalling, and comes with the licensing, fuel and servicing that implies.

How much does it cost to convert a bicycle to electric?

A Karaa Range kit costs UGX 1,650,000 fitted in Uganda (export price US$420 per kit, orders of 50 or more, no Uganda VAT), and does up to 120 km per charge. It fits most bicycles on about 26-inch wheels with a sound frame and working brakes.

If you want to put one of these to work, tell us the use on WhatsApp and we’ll quote, or see full pricing on the Bikes & Kits page.