He’s Trading Angola’s Oil Wealth for a Quiet, Electric Future

In the bustling, high-traffic streets of Luanda, the roar of small combustion engines has long been the soundtrack of daily life. For decades, Angola’s economy has been defined by oil, but Leri Da Costa saw a different path for the nation’s youth and its environment. He didn't see progress in the smog of traditional motorcycles; he saw it in the silence of electric motors. As the founder of Anda EV, Leri is part of a bold new generation of Angolan makers who are determined to leapfrog old, dirty technologies in favour of a sustainable, electric future.

Leri’s journey into the world of Electric Vehicles (EVs) began with a simple observation: the "kupapatas" (motorcycle taxi drivers) who power Angola’s informal economy were spending a massive portion of their daily earnings on fuel and maintenance. By designing and assembling electric motorcycles specifically for the rugged urban terrain of Luanda, Leri wasn't just building a bike; he was building a financial tool. The Anda EV motorcycles are designed to be "swappable." Instead of waiting hours for a charge, a driver pulls into a station, swaps a depleted battery for a fresh one in under 60 seconds, and gets back to work.

Building an EV startup in an oil-rich nation is an uphill battle. Leri had to navigate a market where fuel was heavily subsidised for years, making the "savings" of electricity harder to see at first glance. However, as global and local economic shifts have changed the price of petrol, Leri’s vision has become prophetic. In a 2023 feature by Economia & Mercado, Leri highlighted that his bikes have 80% fewer moving parts than a traditional engine, meaning they rarely break down. He isn't just selling a vehicle; he's selling reliability to people whose livelihoods depend on being on the road.

As of early 2026, Anda EV has expanded its reach beyond the capital, establishing solar-powered charging hubs that allow the bikes to run on pure Angolan sunshine. Leri’s team of local engineers handles the assembly and customisation of the bikes, ensuring that every "Anda" is built to withstand the heat and dust of the region. For Leri, the goal is to create an entire ecosystem where Angola becomes a hub for electric mobility in Southern Africa. He believes that the "Made in Angola" label should represent the cutting edge of the green transition, showing that even oil nations can lead the way in renewable energy.

Lessons for Budding Makers

Leri Da Costa’s journey with Anda EV offers two crucial insights for aspiring African innovators:

1. Focus on Total Cost of Ownership: When selling a new technology like EVs, the initial price tag might be higher, but the long-term savings in maintenance and fuel are the real selling point. Always frame your maker-project in terms of the "profit" it creates for your customer over time, not just the "coolness" of the tech.
2. Infrastructure is the Product: Leri realised that an electric bike is useless without a place to charge it. By building the battery-swapping stations alongside the bikes, he controlled the entire experience. If you are building a product that requires a new kind of support system, you must be prepared to build that system yourself.