The company in Accra connects electric mobility with practical access to power.

Running out of power can stop more than a machine. For a delivery rider, it can mean time off the road. For a small workshop, it can mean pausing work before an order is finished. Kofa is building its business around making those interruptions easier to manage.

Founded in Ghana and headquartered in Accra, Kofa is developing a network of portable battery-swapping stations. Its approach gives users access to charged batteries for compatible vehicles and other power applications. For ASG Spotlight, the company offers a useful look at how engineering can address everyday needs. [1]

Kofa says its name means “Go get it” in Twi and draws on the idea of Sankofa, learning from the past to shape the future. Founder and CEO Erik Nygard previously built Limejump, an energy technology business that Shell acquired in 2019. At Kofa, the focus is on making electricity easier to access through a service people can use throughout their day. [1]

How the swap works

A rider using a compatible motorcycle returns a depleted battery at a Kofa Swap & Go station and takes a charged one. Charging happens within the network, so the rider can continue their journey without waiting for the battery to recharge. Kofa’s app shows station locations and battery availability. [2]

This arrangement is known as battery-as-a-service. Kofa offers access through options such as pay-per-swap and subscriptions. Customers can use batteries without purchasing them outright, while the company manages the battery network. Its technology also monitors information such as battery charge, location, and temperature. [2]

Convenience depends on the services around the battery. A station needs to be within reach, with charged replacements available when users arrive. For someone whose income depends on completing trips, that reliability is part of the product.

Power beyond the motorcycle

Kofa also offers KofaGo, a service that combines portable batteries and inverters to provide power away from a socket or during an outage. The company lists uses including lights, fans, laptops, and power tools. An inverter allows stored battery energy to supply compatible equipment that uses alternating current. [3]

For a small workshop, access to that equipment could help keep work moving when the mains supply is interrupted. It also offers an alternative to running a petrol generator at the point of use. Kofa describes reduced fumes and noise as advantages of its backup power service. [3]

The equipment still has to suit the job. Battery models and supported applications differ, and the inverter must match the devices being powered. Running time depends on the load. Kofa’s own applications pages distinguish between its mobility and backup power offerings, so customers should check the setup available for their intended use. [3][4]

Building the network

Battery swapping requires investment in physical infrastructure. In September 2024, Kofa and PASH Global announced a £6.15 million initiative to expand the network in Ghana, with support from the Shell Foundation and the UK Government. The announcement set a deployment target of 6,000 batteries and up to 100 swap stations. [5]

The partnership assigned Kofa a role in battery network management, with PASH supporting station deployment, maintenance, and operations. Those responsibilities help explain the scale of the task. Each additional location requires equipment, charging capacity, and staff to keep the service running. [5]

Kofa’s website also identifies Kenya as part of its expansion. Entering another market makes local details important: where riders travel, how customers pay, and which locations can support a useful station. Those are practical questions for any company trying to turn a promising technology into an everyday service. [2]

What students can learn from Kofa?

For students interested in African technology, Kofa is a useful example of how a business can combine physical products with software. The company’s team includes engineers, product designers, and operations staff. A working energy service needs its different skills to come together to create a consistent customer experience. [1]

An engineering student might examine how a battery performs through repeated use. A design student could study whether the equipment is easy to handle. Someone studying business could investigate how pricing and station locations affect adoption. Each question starts with the circumstances of the person using the service.

That is what makes Kofa worth following. Its value will be tested when a rider needs a charged battery before the next job, or a business needs power to finish an order. Affordable access and dependable service will determine how much the technology changes the way those working days are spent.

Explore Kofa at kofa.co