Open Access

Judith Adem Owigar, Oliver Lah

• For a systemic shift towards sustainable transport, a convergence of the mobility, energy, and information systems is vital. An information system is a combination of hardware, software, people and processes that collect, process, and distribute information to support analysis, decision making, monitoring and feedback. Information systems are central to the operation of numerous interconnected electric vehicles and services for passenger and freight transport, intelligent charging and pricing solutions, and energy management systems. This paper investigates the role of information systems in enhancing interoperability across multiple transport modes within the e-mobility value chain in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Senegal. ItFor a systemic shift towards sustainable transport, a convergence of the mobility, energy, and information systems is vital. An information system is a combination of hardware, software, people and processes that collect, process, and distribute information to support analysis, decision making, monitoring and feedback. Information systems are central to the operation of numerous interconnected electric vehicles and services for passenger and freight transport, intelligent charging and pricing solutions, and energy management systems. This paper investigates the role of information systems in enhancing interoperability across multiple transport modes within the e-mobility value chain in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Senegal. It contributes to the emerging body of knowledge by analyzing how African startups interpret and engage with concepts such as Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), Artificial Intelligence, and E-Mobility-as-a-Service, thereby providing insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping digital transformation in African e-mobility systems. The research methodology combines the findings from case studies of MaaS implementations in the EU-funded SOLUTIONSplus Project together with in-depth interviews with African e-mobility startups operating a variety of electric vehicles. Thematic analysis was used to identify consistent patterns and relationships between the recurring themes in the data. The results show that information systems are intrinsically linked to e-mobility, with digital infrastructure underpinning critical functions that make them indispensable to the viability, scalability and sustainability of e-mobility ecosystems. Information Systems contribute to the development of innovative financial models, encourage financial accessibility to achieve carbon certification for sustainability and carbon emission mitigation, drive data-driven decision making and enable customer education and awareness. However, the implementation of information systems in the e-mobility sector remains hindered by challenges such as limited regulatory preparedness, fragmented systems, policy gaps, and financing constraints. In addition, factors including inadequate human resource capacity, insufficient customer and user awareness, and the absence of reliable data to inform decision-making further constrain the effective adoption of information systems.…