Consumer View: A friend’s Tesla sparked my desire for EVs

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Electric cars are uncommon in Africa, and the majority of Africans have never seen nor driven one. That was the case for Olatona Olatomiwa, a Nigerian software developer, who knew little about EVs, until one day he saw a US-based friend post a picture of himself in a Tesla car. Since then, he has been enthralled by electric cars and hopes to own one soon. 

• Nigeria's EV market is in its nascency but growing fast as rising fuel prices push Nigerians to look for cheaper alternatives. The country has less than 20,000 EVs, including two- and three-wheelers. 

• Some Nigerians like Mr Olatomiwa have dreams of buying electric cars, but face stumbling blocks, especially high prices. Erratic power supply does not help, while Nigeria still has only a few public fast charging stations. 

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When he saw the great experiences that his friend was having with an electric car, Mr Olatomiwa hoped onto YouTube and watched a documentary that showed why EVs are the future of mobility. That is how his dream of owning an electric car started.

Currently, the deciding factor of when he will buy an electric car is the price. He says that EV prices are currently too high, but that financing options are also limited. “If prices drop drastically or there's a financing option for electric vehicles in Nigeria, that would definitely push me to buy one as soon as possible,” he says. 

Due to the high cost of EVs, he may not wait until he gets money to buy an electric car. Instead, he is open to experiencing other types of EVs such as motorcycles before eventually upgrading to an electric car. “I want to start small. I can go for an electric tricycle but that would be for commercial purposes,” he says.

The benefits of using electric cars are many, ranging from lower energy costs, better user experience, reduced air pollution among others. For Mr Olatomiwa, it is the cost savings that are his primary goal.

“Fuel is becoming something scarce now in this country. It's a very, very big luxury at the moment. An electric vehicle seems like the smarter long-term option, in my opinion. And I also care about the environment, but the pocket comes first,” he says.

Major challenges remain

Despite his burning desire to join the growing number of Africans with EVs, the high upfront cost of purchasing them remains a stumbling block not only for him but thousands of other prospective buyers on the continent. His hope, however, is the emergence of used EVs, which are cheaper and are becoming more available in Nigeria.

“From what I've found, the initial purchase cost is still very, very high, about N50 million ($33,000) for a new one. However, maintenance seems cheaper though so maybe I can get one of the used electric vehicles which are beginning to show up,” says Mr Olatomiwa.

At the same time, he is worried about Nigeria’s infamous power outages, with millions of Nigerians relying on diesel generators to power their homes and businesses. The lack of cheap and reliable power discourages potential EV buyers. Mr Olatomiwa also bemoans the lack of charging stations, especially in major cities like Lagos.  

“24/7 power is a problem in Nigeria. Although, if I get an EV in Nigeria, I'll get a better inverter system in my house that can help with that. And I also hope that public charging stations become more common around Lagos, especially mainland, because that's where I feel it really helps,” he says. 

When he saw his friend riding the Tesla EV, he was also keen to learn about the challenges that come with an electric car, especially battery performance. “I believe that battery lifespan is a concern. Another concern I have is that do we really have these mechanics in Nigeria that can help fix the cars if any issues come?”

When you buy a car, you may want or need to sell it one day. Fuel vehicles have an established used car market in Nigeria and Africa at large. But there is still uncertainty about the used car market for EVs, and whether they can be resold at a good price. “This is still very unpredictable,” he concedes. 

Way forward

Mr Olatomiwa believes that the Nigerian government can do a lot more to support the transition to EVs, especially by reducing taxes, providing incentives to electric mobility stakeholders and increasing public awareness about EVs. Increased investment in EV charging infrastructure, he adds, will also be a game changer for the emerging industry.

“They should just reduce import duties and give tax breaks to electric vehicle buyers. Then they should also sponsor pilot programs and set up charging stations in major cities and highways in Nigeria,” he says. 

He concludes by saying that if he knew he could get support from the government, either financially or infrastructure-wise, he would feel more secure in making the switch to an electric car.