- In its bid to reduce the carbon print and also its heavy reliance on petrol and diesel, a major import product of Kenya, the country is pushing hard to promote the use of electric vehicles (EV).
- To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, Kenya cut excise duty on the cars from 20 percent to 10 percent, while the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) adopted electric vehicle standards.
In its bid to reduce the carbon print and also its heavy reliance on petrol and diesel, a major import product of Kenya, the country is pushing hard to promote the use of electric vehicles (EV). To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, Kenya cut excise duty on the cars from 20 percent to 10 percent, while the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) adopted electric vehicle standards.
Though the high prices of electric cars may deter consumers, scaling up production and favourable government policy could help bring prices down, say experts. The average price of an electric car in Kenya is around Sh6 million.
Kenya Power is working closely with the Government to enact laws that will subsidise the cost of EVs and the attendant infrastructure such as storage and charging points, the shareholders of the company were informed during its recent AGM. Lack of charging points is a major hurdle for use of electric cars. Kenya Power has unveiled plans to build countrywide charging points as a new revenue stream and diversify from selling power to homes and businesses. It is also pushing for further lowering of import taxes for non-fuel-driven cars. Kenya Power is also in talks with the State to cut taxes on electric cars and equipment for building charging points. The States have set a target at least five percent of registered cars to be non-petrol. Kenya Power also has plans to set the electric car charging points along major highways, parking lots and malls with its workshops being hubs for after-sale services.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), also recently announced its plans to set up an electric car charging system.
