Hello

Your subscription is almost coming to an end. Don’t miss out on the great content on Nation.Africa

Ready to continue your informative journey with us?

Hello

Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.Africa is still within reach. Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

Reclaim your full access. Click below to renew.

Caption for the landscape image:

Electric cars key to climate goals

Scroll down to read the article

Yusuf Kayiwa charges his electric car at a charging point in Kampala. Through his company, Electrify Africa, Kayiwa wants Africans to own electric mobility infrastructure. PHOTO/GEORGE KATONGOLE

Electric Vehicles (EV) mobility is a novel sector in Uganda’s transport industry, but its global role in helping to transition to zero emissions is pivotal. With road transport responsible for an estimated 75 percent of transportation-related carbon output, electric vehicles can cut these emissions in half over their lifetime, contributing to the global push towards climate goals.

Accounting for only one percent of new car sales globally in 2015, the latest figures show 14 million EV sales globally in 2023, accounting for around 18 percent of new sales. By 2040, it is predicted there will be around 240 million passenger EVs on the road.

With the world struggling against climate change and building sustainable solutions, one man is focused on setting the pace for EV mobility in Uganda. That man is Yusuf Kayiwa.

Kayiwa initially intended to convert thermal cars into EVs. He was inspired by Tesla during his 2015 US trip, fascinated by Elon Musk's electric car design. He now aims to develop an African electric car brand with designs optimized for African terrain and manufactured in China.

Charging ahead
Through his company, Electrify Africa, which is part of Simba Innovative and was incorporated in 2020, Kayiwa wants Africans to own electric mobility infrastructure and economic opportunities. Electrify Africa is dedicated to advancing battery technology, making EVs more affordable, and expanding charging infrastructure.

Kayiwa’s vision is to transform electric vehicles from a niche market into a mainstream choice through innovation. He says charging is essential to support the roll-out of EVs, but cities are struggling to keep pace with the development of publicly available charging infrastructure to meet this growing demand.

Kayiwa highlights his company's aspirations: “We’re driving the future of sustainable transportation, fostering innovation, and enabling communities to take charge of electric mobility through our community-focused EV charging platform. Our commitment to the electrification transition is deep, leveraging our multi-energy technology.”

Providing a charging solution through Simba Innovative, the parent company of Electrify Africa, Kayiwa aims to empower individuals to own EV chargers, creating a seamless ecosystem for the transition to electric vehicles in Uganda.

Charging infrastructure
Using the Tesla Model X as a symbol of innovation, Electrify Africa will drive awareness about the future of electric mobility through strategic city drives and regional tours. This awareness will demonstrate the feasibility of electric transportation.

Electrify Africa has developed software using Open Charge Point Protocol to enable EV charging station networking and monetization. Simba Innovative plans a collaborative electric charging network for urban spaces such as apartments and malls. This software enables cross-country EV charging across Africa without currency conversion challenges.

The charging stations will be owned and operated by third-party service providers, who charge fees for their use. Electrify Africa will also offer home charging solutions, including solar-powered carports with charging infrastructure across major roads and highways.

Kayiwa believes electric mobility will take more than five years to break even financially. Battery recycling capabilities are expected to improve significantly by 2030, with batteries retaining 80 percent capacity after 25 years.

A major energy transition
Uganda has outlined a comprehensive National e-Mobility Strategy, prioritizing public transport and motorcycles by 2030 and passenger vehicle electrification by 2040. This strategy includes investments in charging infrastructure, policy frameworks for tax exemptions, and fostering local EV manufacturing capabilities.

This transition to electric vehicles depends on developing new and attractive vehicles, ensuring energy availability, and deploying a dense network of charging stations.

Partnerships
Electrify Africa has partnered with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to ensure the electricity grid accommodates the increased demand for EVs while maintaining grid stability.

“But all our efforts in the EV space will come to fruition when people become more conscious of their carbon footprint and understand that adopting EVs is the best option for a better tomorrow,” Kayiwa says.