Coming soon: Electric vehicle charging points on highways, towns near you
The Kenya Kwanza government plans to set up electric vehicle charging stations across Kenya in major towns and cities. The plan is part of the incentives the government is banking on to catalyze the adoption of electric mass transit systems in all cities and towns.
According to the 2023 Budget Policy Statement, President William Ruto’s government will also provide financial and tax incentives for public service vehicles and commercial transporters to convert to electric vehicles as the country adopts smart travel.
Further, the government plans to leverage the financial support that will be provided to the bodaboda sector through the Hustler Fund, to develop the nascent electrical vehicle (EV) and motorcycle assembly industry to create jobs while also shifting a significant chunk of the population that uses bodaboda to electric engines.
The government contends that accelerating the transition to electric vehicles is a win-win proposition in terms of contributing to Kenya’s emission reduction commitment, cheaper transport, and leveraging on the large local and regional motorcycle market to build an electric vehicle industry.
Smart mobility company BasiGo has been liaising with public service transport providers rolling out buses to service city routes as the country shifts to electric vehicle systems.
Read also: Super Metro premiers BasiGo electric bus in Nairobi routes
This week, leading Nairobi City PSV provider Super Metro Sacco unveiled a 25-seater electric-powered bus to start serving passengers in its CBD to Kitengela and Kikuyu routes.
BasiGo has already partnered with lenders KCB and Family Bank to help provide financing to potential buyers in what it calls the “Pay-As-You-Drive” financing model. The firm projects to will supply over 1,000 locally manufactured mass transit electric buses in Kenya over the next three years.
The use of electric vehicles is advanced in the developed world but its adoption in Africa has been slow with only South Africa leading at just over 6000EVs on the road.
Kenya Power plans to turn over 2000 fuel powered vehicles into electric vehicles as part of its moves to check on energy costs. Three years ago, the government mooted plans to require real estate developers to incorporate electric charging units by 2025.
