- It has set aside Sh40 million in the current financial year to purchase two pickups and one four-wheel drive.
- The funds will also go towards the construction of three electric vehicle charging stations.
Image: FILE
Kenya Power will phase out its fleet’s fossil-powered vehicles and motorbikes in the move to adopt electric ones, a step towards business sustainability.
It has set aside Sh40 million in the current financial year to purchase two pickups and one four-wheel drive for the pilot period.
The funds will also go towards the construction of three electric vehicle charging stations for the company’s use and demonstration purposes.
The move is in line with the e-mobility evolution that is being eyed globally to tame the tightening fuel economy and increased carbon emissions amidst climate change concerns.
Kenya Power joins other sector players such as Nopea Ride which is a leader in Kenya's electric taxi service to fast-track the transformation.
In January, the firm announced its plan to triple its fleet in Nairobi.
International Energy Agency projects that 60 per cent of global car sales will be electric by 2030.
Apart from this pilot phase-out, the power distributor intends to reduce its carbon footprint by purchasing more e-vehicles in the near future, including two-wheelers and three-wheelers.
Speaking at the Swedish Embassy during the launch of electric motorbikes by Roam Motors, Kenya Power’s Acting managing director Geoffrey Muli said that in the medium term, the Company will also purchase 50 long-range electric bikes.
“We must play our rightful role to combat global warming by championing mitigation measures such as the adoption of electric motorisation,” Muli said.
Kenya Power has recently finished piloting 13 electric bikes in conjunction with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which were being used by meter readers and the revenue collection team.
However, there have been impediments to battery storage reliability and a lack of after-sales service.
But with companies now assembling long-range e-motorbikes in the country and offering after-sales services, the power provider is hopeful for the future of e-mobility.
The country so far has more than 1,000 electric vehicles currently on the roads.
“With an installed electricity capacity of 3,077 Megawatts and an off-peak load of 1,100 Megawatts, Kenya has enough power to support the entire e-mobility ecosystem,” Muli said.