As the world is gearing up towards a clean transportation system, Kenya is not being left behind. We have few companies which have started the EV journey, some of the companies deal with conversion of ICEs to EVs, Electric Taxi, Electric and motorcycles . Some of these companies are:
Opibus- A Swedish startup that is based in Nairobi converts combustion cars to electric vehicles. They have converted several vehicles that are used in the game reserves such as Ol-Pajeta Conservancy.
For the Kenyan economy, the price of conversion is too high for an average citizen. The price of conversion is $30,000, this is out of reach for most people and is more expensive than the average cost of vehicles that Kenyans own. Hopefully, the cost will come down in the future.
However, Opibus targets a huge market that includes Public transport systems such as Matatu, Motorcycle taxis. If they manage to aim this then EVs will be daily cars on the Kenyan roads.
Nopea Ride- It is a Finnish company that started its pilot project in Nairobi in 2018. The company now has 4 charging stations ( Thika Road Mall, The Hub Karen, Two Rivers Mall, and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) where drivers can charge their vehicles for free.
It aims to provide affordable ride-hailing services with high income for the drivers and also take care of the ecosystem. They target to have 100 fleets by the end of this year. Currently, there are close to 30 fleets, this is a small number compared to the population of people in Nairobi, however, it opens an opportunity for the taxi industry as well as people to experience Electric vehicles.
Kiri Electric- Kiri EV is an electrical startup based in Nairobi. The company started its pilot project a year ago and now ready to take orders of their motorcycles. Currently, they have 10 motorcycles and plans to have 300 by the end of the year. Just like any startup, the Kenyan electric motorcycle is focusing on shoppers, they have three fashions, the Funstar scooter, the traditional Nomad motorbike, and the sporty trying Moran.
The motorcycle has a range of 70-80 km on a single charge, the second option has 150 km and the highest. The highest velocity is 70 km/hr. They also have a scooter that can go for 80 km/hr. Carrying capability is 200 kg. The electrical motorbike has a 3kW motor with a 72V 30 Ah battery (LFP), disc brakes, and LED lights.
Drive Electric-The company offers several services such as:
i) Charging Station Installation- The company installs, operate, and maintain charging stations, as well as monitor their energy flow to analyze the electric vehicles’ power consumption
ii) E-mobility Consultancy- Offers consultative services on Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and Fleet Electrification.
iii) Electric Vehicle Leasing- They also provide leasing of EVs. Terms of lease are negotiated and have terms and limits which vary.
iv) Fleet Analysis- They are also in charge of transitioning businesses to Electric Mobility with insights on technologies and mobility trends with a primary goal of transport cost saving
