Car manufacturer and sales company, Simba Corporation on July 1, said it has delivered the first batch of the all-electric Mahindra XUV400 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) ordered by Kenya Power.
According to head of transport at Kenya Power David Mugambi, the delivery marks a significant step forward in Kenya’s journey towards sustainable mobility and environmental responsibility.
The two electric vehicles (EV), are part of six that have been acquired by the electricity utility firm this year. Kenya Power plans to further expand its fleet to 9 electric vehicles and 25 electric motorcycles by December 2024.
“At over 92 per cent green generation, Kenya Power has one of the cleanest energy distributions on the planet,” said Mugambi. “In light of environmental concerns and our need to be carbon neutral, reducing emissions within the transport space is crucial. This therefore marks an important milestone in our EV journey, which started close to eight years ago with the transition to electric material handling equipment at our yards and warehouses.”
With Kenya rapidly emerging as a leader in EV adoption in Africa, the country has seen a significant increase in the number of EVs on the road currently estimated at about 2,100 ranging from two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers.
Naresh Leekha, Group managing director of Simba Corporation’s motors division, expressed the firm’s commitment to EV journey in the country, with the introduction of Mahindra electric vehicles in Kenya with a positive outlook into the future.
“The whole world today is talking about bringing in environment-friendly vehicles and today we have delivered the first two Mahindra XUV400 SUVs to Kenya Power, one of the first customers to embrace the Mahindra Electric SUVs in Kenya,” said Leekha.
Speaking of Kenya’s readiness to transition to EV, Mugambi explained that the country has enough energy to support significant EV growth over the next five years with the current installed capacity of 3, 246 Megawatts (MW) way above peak demand at 2300MW, and an off-peak load of 1,100 MW as of December 2023.
“Kenya’s readiness for EV mobility is underscored by a substantial clean energy capacity. We have adequate energy to power the electric mobility space for the next five years when we expect at the current rate to outstrip our current demand. This transition could also help reduce energy costs and improve the quality of life in Kenya by utilizing local energy sources,” he noted.
This initiative not only aligns with global environmental goals but also promises economic benefits by reducing reliance on imported fuel and enhancing energy security.
