NAIROBI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) — E-mobility experts met in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Wednesday to discuss ways to accelerate the adoption of e-mobility in Africa.
The five-day Africa E-Mobility Week 2024 brought together more than 200 delegates, including representatives from United Nations agencies, senior government officials, and innovators from across Africa, to foster collaboration and advance the sustainable mobility movement on the continent.
Alexander Koerner, manager of the Sustainable Mobility Unit at the UN Environment Program (UNEP), said Africa should embrace the use of e-mobility as one of the important climate actions in the transport and energy sector.
“Africa can leverage on its abundant renewable energy sources, such as solar and geothermal power, to roll out electrification of its public transportation systems,” Koerner said.
He noted that the UNEP is currently providing technical expertise to various African governments to reform their legislations and regulations so that they can provide incentives to promote the flow of investments into the e-mobility sector.
Stephen Nzioka, director of renewable energy in the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, said inadequate charging infrastructure is one of the key challenges to the widespread adoption of e-vehicles.
Nzioka said Kenya has rolled out several government-led initiatives, including financing the development of public charging infrastructure through budgetary allocation.
He noted that due to tax incentives, the number of electric vehicles has risen to about 5,000 in the country.
Warren Ondanje, managing director of the Africa E-mobility Alliance, called for the development of harmonized e-mobility standards across the continent to promote green modes of transport.
Hilina Legesse, president of the Addis Ababa E-mobility Association, also urged Africa to switch to electric vehicles because they have lower operating costs as compared to fossil fuel-based modes of transport.
