Automotive company Simba Corporation has delivered the first all-electric Mahindra XUV400 Sports Utility Vehicle to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).
According to KPLC Head of Transport David Mugambi, the two EVs are among six acquired by the power utility firm this year.
By December 2024, the utility company plans to expand its fleet to nine EVs and 25 electric motorcycles.
“In light of environmental concerns and our need to be carbon neutral, reducing emissions within the transport space is crucial,” he said.
Further, Mugambi explained that the country has enough energy to support significant EV growth over the next five years, with a current installed capacity of 3,246 megawatts, way above peak demand at 2,300 megawatts, and an off-peak load of 1,100 megawatts as of December 2023.
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“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.”
The country has seen a significant increase in the number of EVs on the road, currently estimated at about 2,100, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers, as Kenya continues to take the lead in EV adoption across Africa.
To reduce carbon emissions from vehicular, private and government agencies are modernizing their fleets with EVs.
In May 2024, for example, Chinese EV maker MojaEV unveiled its first EVs in Kenya, targeting cab drivers.
“The whole world today is talking about bringing in environment-friendly vehicles and 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 Naresh Leekha, Group Managing Director of Simba Corporation’s Motors Division.
