NAIROBI, March 9 (Xinhua) — Kenya’s ministry of energy and private sector players on Wednesday launched the inaugural electric public service vehicle amid pledge to advance green mobility and tame the climate crisis in the country.
Rosemary Oduor, the acting managing director of state power utility, Kenya Power and Lighting Company, said the launch of the first public service vehicle to be powered by electricity as opposed to diesel marked a critical milestone in the country’s quest for zero-carbon mobility.
"E-mobility, which is driving the green agenda dovetails with the country’s energy mix which currently comprises over 92 percent of renewable power, with our goal being to go fully green by 2030," Oduor said during the launch of electric public service vehicle in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
According to Oduor, Kenya has an installed power capacity of 2,991 megawatts and an off-peak load of 1,200 megawatts, enough to facilitate a seamless roll-out of electric mobility countrywide.
She added that an e-mobility ecosystem was gradually taking shape amid the widespread availability of charging stations for motorists even as the state power utility establish a liaison office to advance green mobility as a business.
Oduor revealed the government had commenced discussion with five e-mobility players who intend to venture into the Kenyan market, adding that the power utility was capable of charging 50,000 buses and two million motorcycles during off-peak hours.
She said that reducing the cost of power had been prioritized in order to stimulate investments in green mobility, hasten the country’s progress towards achieving carbon neutrality. Enditem
