Spiro e-bikeElectric bike riders in Fort Portal City have expressed growing concern over the high charging cost and short lifespan of the batteries used in their motorcycles.The riders say the bikes from Spiro were provided through financing companies on an installment plan, where they are required to make daily or weekly payments to clear the balance.However, many say the operational costs especially related to battery charging have become unsustainable.According to Simon Aliganyira the Chairperson of the Electric Bike Riders Association in Fort Portal, a fully charged battery lasts only about three hours, forcing most riders to use up to three batteries a day.“Refilling each battery costs us UGX 8,400, which means three batteries cost UGX25,200 a day. This is too much money,” he said.He added that on top of the charging fees, riders are still required to make their daily loan payments, which has become a heavy burden.Steven Sunday, one of the riders, said that when they were acquiring the motorcycles, they were told that each full battery charge could last for about 100 kilometers.“However, in reality, the batteries only cover around 70 kilometers before running out, so we are frustrated by the high charging costs,” Sunday lamented. “We have families and children to take care of, but at the end of the day, all the money we earn goes to charging batteries.”Another rider, Gilbert Muzoora, acknowledged that the electric bikes are fast, convenient, and environmentally friendly, but appealed for more flexibility in how they manage their batteries.“We have only three charging points that serve over 300 bikes in Fort Portal and Kabarole,” he said. “They are always congested, and sometimes you find there are no charged batteries available. We wish the companies could allow us to charge the batteries ourselves.”He noted that the companies prohibit riders from privately charging the batteries, forcing them to rely on designated points that are often overcrowded.Jackson Bahati, another rider, urged the financing companies to set up more charging stations and improve the battery capacity to reduce the financial strain on riders.“If they increase the number of charging points and improve the batteries’ lifespan, it will greatly help us cut costs,” Bahati said.Efforts to talk to the Asaaka Company, one of the boda boda financing companies were futile as their branch manager in Fort Portal declined to speak to this reporter saying he will first seek permission from his bosses.Steven Kasozi an attendant at a charging point along Mugurusi Road in Fort Portal told our reporter that they charge UGX 8,400 for a battery that comes at 0% of power.“When a rider comes with a battery which has some power, the system calculates and charges depending on how much the battery has, for example this customer has come with a battery at 9% and the system has charged him shs 6600,” he illustrated.Kasozi said that the riders were notified about the charges when they gave them the motorcycles and advised that I’d they have any grievance they should speak to their respective financing companies.-URNThe post E-Bike Riders Decry Battery Charging Costs, Short Lifespan appeared first on Business Focus.