The government is urging private sector players in Kenya’s electric mobility space to intensify investments to expand the country’s charging infrastructure.
Increased investment is backed to support higher uptake of electric vehicles which will help utilized Kenya’s surplus power during off-peak hours.
“Our country is uniquely positioned to power the next chapter in electric mobility. This clean energy surplus gives us a confidence that Kenya can support the widespread deployment of EVs, charging infrastructure for domestic, commercial and public transport,” said State Department of Energy Assistant Director for Renewable Energy Erick Apunda.
Speaking when he represented Alex Wachira who is the Energy at the Africa EV Mobility Expo in Nairobi, Apunda said the e-mobility sector is on the forefront to take up the power surplus power which exists from the current off-peak demand of 1,350MW against total installed capacity of 3,192MW.
According to Apunda, riding on the e-mobility framework developed by the National E-Mobility Taskforce, Kenya targets to increase e-mobility charging infrastructure to at least 10,000 by 2030 despite existing challenges.
“High initial capital cost, limited density of charging infrastructure and some counties’ gaps in permitting and regulatory clarity remain key obstacles. The ministry is working to create conducive environment for that to be addressed,” he noted.
Official data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicates that the country currently has 9,047 registered EVs, compared to 2,694 in 2023, reflecting rapid growth of the sector.
Speakers at the event backed EVs to help Kenya transition to clean energy in the transport sector by replacing Internal Combustion Engines.
“ICE vehicle are less efficient. There is a lot of high energy loss. Only 30pc of the energy goes to the wheel while the rest at 70pc or more goes to producing heat and other losses whereas for the electric vehicles, it’s more efficient. Over 70pc of energy goes to the wheel,” said Michael Muchiri, an independent EV expert.
The two-day Africa EV expo brought together policymakers, investors, innovators and financiers in a bid to explore opportunities available in the sector.
