Kenya Power to Invest in Electric Cars’ Charging Stations

Kenya Power has revealed that its planning for a larger stake of the electric car market by building countrywide charging points. It will also push for further lowering of import taxes for non-fuel driven cars.

The power provider said it would build a network of public electric vehicle charging points, targeting one of the hurdles of use of electric cars in Kenya. Furthermore, Kenya Power is also in talks with the state to cut taxes on electric cars and equipment for building charging points to meet the State target of having at least five percent of registered cars being non-petrol.

This will be a new revenue stream for the electricity provider as it races to diversify from selling power to homes and businesses.

“We are also planning to set up charging facilities across the country, and will make use of our existing workshops to provide after-sale services such as mechanical support,” Kenya Power acting CEO Rosemary Oduor told shareholders at the firm’s AGM.

“As Kenya’s only electricity off-taker, and with our goal being to become the energy solutions provider of choice, the opportunity presented by electric motorisation is substantive enough to be a dial-mover for the business.”

Currently in Kenya, people are shying away from buying electric vehicles because of the puzzle of how they will charge the vehicles.

Kenya Power is expected to set the electric car charging points along major highways, parking lots and malls with its workshops being hubs for after-sale services.

It joins Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), which also recently announced it is investing in electric car charging system.

Kenya has joined the global push to promote the use of electric vehicles and reduce reliance on petrol and diesel. Fuel products are the country’s biggest import item.

“We are working closely with the Government to enact laws that will subsidise the cost of these vehicles and the attendant infrastructure such as storage and charging points,” said Ms Oduor.