Regulator, UN push for electric vehicles adoption to cut toxic emissions

Kenya is setting the pace in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) realising a 600 per cent growth last year as the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority ramps up efforts to support the country’s carbon emissions cuts.

Energy Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) Director General Daniel Kiptoo said that there has been a consistent rise in the import of electric vehicles in the country, with a growth from 0.17 per cent in 2022 to 1.6 per cent in 2023.

He further added that the current fleet of electric vehicles in Kenya is over 3,700 registered units, of which around 90 percent are 2 and 3 wheelers.

“The country has witnessed a steady increase in EV imports, with electric vehicles rising by 1.6 per cent in 2023 from 0.17 per cent. Kenya’s electric vehicle fleet currently comprises over 3,700 registered units, with approximately 90 percent being 2 and 3 wheelers,” Kiptoo said.

Demand surge

He said the local demand surge is indicative of global trends with predictions that at least 1 in 5 vehicles to be sold this year in the world will be electric.  To bolster these efforts alongside enabling regulations, the energy regulator yesterday launched a nationwide campaign dubbed Tusonge na EVs to create awareness on safety, affordability and rally the nation towards mass market adoption with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The campaign supports the government’s aspiration to attain a 5 per cent market share of all newly imported vehicles being fully electric by 2025.

While sales of EVs are increasing globally, there is a high concentration in major markets like the US.