Assessing the Impact of Solar-Powered Electric Motorcycles on Household Petrol Expenditure in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

The removal of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy in May 2023 raised pump prices from about ₦200 to well over ₦1,000 per litre, straining household transport budgets in Kano Metropolis, where motorcycles are the dominant mode of private and commercial mobility. Solar-powered electric motorcycles (SPEMs) are a potential alternative, but their effect on household petrol expenditure has not been documented with household-level data. This study assessed the effect of SPEM adoption on household petrol expenditure in Kano Metropolis. A descriptive survey of 384 motorcycle-owning household heads, selected by stratified random sampling across the eight local government areas of the metropolis, was conducted with a structured questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.78). Data were analysed with paired-samples t-tests, correlation, and simple and multiple regression at the 0.05 level. Of the respondents, 31.5% (n = 121) had adopted SPEMs. Among adopters, mean monthly petrol expenditure fell from ₦30,200 to ₦0, t(120) = 31.42, p < 0.001, d = 2.86. Adoption was a significant negative predictor of petrol expenditure (β = −0.641, R² = 0.411) and was associated with a lower transport cost burden (r = −0.492). High acquisition cost, limited charging infrastructure, unreliable grid supply and concerns about battery quality significantly constrained adoption, whereas awareness and maintenance skills did not. Access to solar charging was associated with a larger reduction in petrol expenditure (β = 0.428). Petrol expenditure is a gross measure that excludes charging and battery costs. The findings point to financing, solar charging hubs and battery quality assurance as policy priorities.