By Judith Gicobi
As the country’s fuel costs continue to increase, demand for electric vehicles is on the rise, with forecasts that the number of electric vehicles on the road might double by the end of the year.
Stakeholders believe that electric automobiles are the way to go in the face of a severe fuel scarcity and rising global oil prices. Electric vehicle manufacturers have expressed ambitions to extend their services from Nairobi, which has profited greatly from the new means of transportation.
Micah Kenneth, Bolt’s East Africa Regional Manager, said the company was eager to expand its services to other counties.
He said that Kenya has roughly 100 electric cars, all of which are based in Nairobi, and that they have completed over one million journeys since last year.
“We project that the number of electric cars will double in one year and rise by five times in the next five years as more people are keen on this technology,” he stated.
Mr Kenneth, speaking at an electric car exhibition in Naivasha, said that the cost of operating the vehicles was 40% cheaper than that of petrol and diesel vehicles. “Currently the biggest challenge is charging stations, as nearly all of them are in Nairobi. But this is being addressed,” he said.
