Ethiopian Startup Launches Power Bank Rental Service

An Ethiopian technology startup has launched a power bank rental and sharing service, paving the way for an on-demand mobile charging infrastructure. MyCharge Technology PLC announced the service, available in Amharic, Oromiffa, and English, late Friday afternoon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. After registering on the app, users can rent a power bank from the above 60 stations in the capital and return it at any convenient location within 72 hours. An initial deposit of 2,000 Birr to the MyCharge wallet is required to access the power banks, which will be refunded upon returning the device. 

Nahom Solomon, General Manager of MyCharge, says the rapid adoption of technology across Ethiopia complements the introduction of the service into the market. He indicated that the power bank stations, which carry up to 40 power banks, have been placed at strategic locations likely to have demand.

“For the time being, we are not requiring fees for the rentals,” Nahom told Shega.

The general manager says 20 Birr per hour, capped at 200 Birr per day, will be charged when the service becomes popular in the market. Notifications to return the power banks will start being sent to customers after 48 hours of usage. The four-month-old company plans to avoid the 2,000 Birr initial deposit requirements in the long run by integrating the service with the national ID and financial institutions.

“We will have 150 stations by the end of the year,” the general manager noted.

The power banks capable of fully charging two smartphones can be accessed by scanning QR codes on the stations, while payments can be made via telebirr and the Chapa payment gateway. Each station is fitted with digital screens of up to 25 inches for advertising opportunities.

While the business is new in Ethiopia, it is a popular service in most Asian countries, with some estimates forecasting the industry’s value to reach $15.9 billion by 2030. Power bank rental services have become particularly popular in Asian countries like Japan and China, with companies like Chargespot dominating in most markets. Some offer their rental services through kiosks, airports, and other population-dense areas, while most incorporate an app into their package of services. MyCharge plans to roll out around 250 power bank stations across Ethiopia by the end of next year.