Disco to invest $2m in EVs, charging stations as Kenya eyes transition
TLDR
- Kenya Power to invest Sh258 million in electric vehicles (EVs) over 3 years, including purchasing EVs and motorbikes alongside establishing a nationwide charging infrastructure.
- Inauguration of EV charging station at Nairobi headquarters with 50 kW DC charger (one-hour charging) and 22 kW AC charger (two-hour charging).
- Plan to install nine more charging stations by July 2024 to promote e-mobility transition.
Kenya Power, an electricity distributor, intends to invest Sh258 million ($2 million) over the next three years to bolster the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
This investment comprises purchasing electric vehicles and motorbikes, along with establishing charging infrastructure nationwide. As part of this initiative, the company inaugurated an EV charging station at its Nairobi headquarters, representing a Sh6.5 million investment.
The station includes a 50 kW direct current charger (with a one-hour charging time) and a 22 kW alternating current charger (with a two-hour charging time). In addition, Kenya Power plans to install nine more chargers by July 2024, further facilitating the transition to e-mobility.
Key Takeaways
South Africa currently leads the African market for electric vehicles (EVs), although the total number of EVs on South African roads was relatively low, with just over 6,000 in 2020. EVs, including hybrids, accounted for less than 0.2% of new car sales out of a total fleet of 12 million automobiles. In Kenya, there were an estimated 350 EVs, compared to around 2.2 million registered vehicles in use. Despite these relatively small numbers, there has been significant growth in electric vehicle sales on the continent, driven by government incentives such as tax cuts. The Kenyan government, for example, is actively promoting e-mobility by introducing incentives. Kenya Power, the country's main power supplier, has ambitious plans to convert 2,000 gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and trucks to electric power over the next four years.
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