Kenya Power in ambitious plans to launch electric car charging stations

The loss making Kenya Power is planning to introduce electric car charging stations as part of its initiatives to open up more revenue earning streams as the world moves from a fossil fuel-driven economy to one that is sustainable, green and attempts to mitigate climate change.

The electricity retailer plans to build charging stations and flatten the hurdles of using the electric cars in as Kenya joins the Western nations in embracing the new model of cars that don’t rely on diesel or petrol.

Kenya-Power announced the ambitious plans despite analysts’ warning that electric cars will not attract the African market unless governments lobby and push for policies that would see a reduction in their prices.

“We are developing appropriate infrastructure and building internal capacity to enable us to support the use of electric vehicles across the value chain. To this end, we plan to set up charging facilities across the country beginning with Nairobi to support direct charging of vehicles,” said Kenya Power MD Bernard Ngugi.

Mr Ngugi, however, did not disclose any set deadlines the electricity distributor is expected to install the electric car charging stations along major highways and shopping malls.

The big announcement comes after Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) also announced its plans to invest in the growing electric car charging system to reap from car owners who will need their cars charged.

US, Germany, Norway and Netherlands are some of the countries in the world that are hell bent to cut down excess carbon emission by embracing electric cars, a model that is still expensive for many to afford in places like Africa.

An electric car is about Sh6 million but the Kenyan car market is flooded with imported second hand cars from Japan or China.

Only Nopia Ride, a taxi company that uses electric car has been able to heighten up its operations in Kenya with charging stations installed in three locations including the Two Rivers Mall, the Hub Karen and Thika Road Mall.

 

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