Business
JAM | Feb 1, 2025

Tropical Mobility secures e-bike distribution deal with Lee Issa’s Ellesco

Josimar Scott

Josimar Scott / Our Today

editor
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Ellesco founder Lee Issa shakes hands with Tropical Mobility CEO Oliver Hill in Tropical Plaza, Half-Way Tree in St Andrew after finalising a distribution agreement for e-bikes.

Tropical Mobility, a subsidiary of Tropical Battery Company, has entered into a strategic partnership with Ellesco, led by hotelier and real estate developer Lee Issa, for the commercialisation of electric kick scooters, bicycles, motorbikes and ATVs, as well as passenger vehicles for private motorists and corporate fleets, commercial vehicles and buses.

Both companies recently signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at driving the adoption of electric vehicles in key sectors across Jamaica. Under the terms of the partnership, Tropical Mobility will establish a flagship showroom at Tropical Plaza in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew to promote Tesla passenger vehicles and electric motorbikes from the combined portfolio of both companies.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Lee Issa, a pioneer in the electric vehicle market in Jamaica who saw the writing on the wall and ensured e-mobility is accessible to all Jamaicans by supplying electric kick scooters, bicycles and motorbikes at affordable prices,” Tropical Mobility CEO Oliver Hill said.

Legislation paves way for e-bikes

“The electric bikes sold by Ellesco have been gaining in popularity year after year since the company was established, and we expect even greater traction in the years ahead thanks to the recent application of the 10 per cent duty concession to this class of vehicles, which will allow even more Jamaicans to kiss their internal combustion engines goodbye,” Hill added.

On December 13, 2024, the Senate approved the Road Traffic (Licence Duties), Order, 2024, Resolution, which legislates the reduction of the import duty on electric bikes (e-bikes) to 10 per cent. In keeping with this commitment, the Government also amended the Customs Tariff (Revision) (Amendment) Resolution, 2018 Customs Regulations to reflect the lowering of the import duty.

“The amendments mentioned would only be for electric bikes that are three years old or less since the date of manufacture. It was also approved for the regime to be in place from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2029,” Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill explained about changes to the legislation.

Minister of Industry, Investment Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill (Photo: Olivia Hutchinson/ OUR TODAY)

For companies that operate a diverse fleet of vehicles, transportation providers in the tourism sector and last-mile delivery operators, transitioning to electrical vehicles can contribute to them realising significant savings by adopting battery electric vehicles, which especially with renewable energy generation reduces carbon emissions and noise pollution.

A more affordable, environmentally friendly option

In fact, this was one of the reasons cited by Minister Hill in his parliamentary presentation.

“One important benefit of switching from internal combustion engine vehicles generally, is the elimination of the current noise nuisance which exists on our roads. This is so because the electric motor which powers an electric vehicle does not engage in the activity of the burning of fuel which produces a lot of noise. It is our further understanding that the exhaust system of electric bikes cannot be altered to produce the gunshot-like sounds which have become frightening for the citizens of this country,” he said.

The partnership between Tropical and Ellesco is geared towards enabling a whole ecosystem approach to adopt electric vehicles such that charging is maximised through the use of solar power.

A major milestone

“The partnership we have formed with Tropical Mobility represents a major milestone for electric mobility in Jamaica,” Issa stated adding: “By combining Ellesco’s leading position in the electric bike market with Tropical’s national footprint and operational expertise in both electric mobility and renewable energy, we are setting the stage for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for Jamaica.”

By partnership with Ellesco, Tropical Mobility is realising one of its goals geared towards redefining how Jamaica moves by supplying zero-emissions vehicles complemented with after-sales service and warranty support.

With the increasing demand for last-mile delivery and eco-friendly transportation solutions, the partnership between Tropical Mobility and Ellesco will deliver value to businesses and private motorists alike. At the same time, the new store addresses the gap in the adoption of low-carbon transportation solutions that reduce dependence on imported oil while creating high-value employment opportunities for EV technicians.

According to the Tropical Mobility CEO “Under this partnership, we will…take electric mobility to the next level, ensuring that all Jamaicans can access and benefit from the transition to a more sustainable energy and transport future where our growth and prosperity is decoupled from oil imports and carbon emissions.”

Comments

What To Read Next