The decision is part of a growing trend in East African economies to use abundant renewable energy sources for power and to convert motorbike and car engines from fossil fuels to electricity.
This is an idea that we implemented in Algeria. In November 2022, the Algerian administration announced plans to ban diesel-powered cars. The aim is to reduce its carbon emissions and adopt a clean energy source. Read the story here. A few weeks ago, the country announced plans to reduce its use of fossil fuels, despite being the continent’s fourth-largest oil producer.
Kenya is now the latest African country to turn to eco-friendly initiatives. Kenya Power will gradually replace its gasoline and diesel vehicles with newer models and retrofitted electric engines.
According to Kenya Power, Kenya has an installed generation capacity of 3,321 megawatts (MW), and a peak demand of 2,132 MW and a peak demand of approximately 1,100 MW.
“Charging electric vehicles, especially at night, will therefore help reduce the gap between off-peak load available generation capacity and increase average demand to over 1,500 MW.” Kenya Power said in a statement.
Earlier in the month, in Nairobi, an increase in charging stations for electric vehicles was reported.
As battery charging infrastructure is installed by electric mobility businesses, the vehicles are becoming increasingly popular.
In May 2022, e-mobility startup Ampersand began operations in Kenya. There are around 60 customers and seven battery changing stations in the capital.
Ampersand’s head of expansion, Ian Mbote, says this type of transport is a money saver.
“Electric mobility is cheap. You are saving 45 percent, less. To be precise, fuel is about 180 shillings per liter. Our batteries cost 185 shillings to replace a full battery. That gives you about 90 to 110 kilometers. That 180 shillings on fuel gives you about giving 30 to 40 kms,” He explained.