Electric tricycle firm arrives in West Africa

• Nigeria has more than 400,000 tricycles, commonly known as keke. This makes it one of Africa’s largest tricycle markets, naturally attracting the attention of electric three-wheeler companies like Alpha.

• Alpha will face stiff competition from the growing number of local electric tricycle makers that have established themselves in the market. They include Innoson, Ecowaka, Swap Energies, Micra, and the state-backed Naseni. 

• Our take: The high cost of electric tricycles means that any successful company will make access to credit central to its plans… Read more (2 min)

Power utilities race to electrify their fleets

• Power companies own thousands of vehicles, which are constantly on the move for installations and routine maintenance. South Africa’s Eskom, Kenya’s Kenya Power, and Morocco’s ONEE are making the shift to electric fleets.

• This aims to reduce costs and boost efficiency, especially for vehicles transporting heavy equipment. It cuts fuel expenses, especially where utilities rely on generators powered by fossil fuels.

• Our take: Government utilities could partner with private EV leasing companies to supply and maintain electric vehicles instead of purchasing them… Read more (2 min)

Pricing review: Who has the lowest charging fees?

• Egyptian charging prices are among the lowest globally. The country generates a large share of its power from state-owned gas and renewable plants, keeping production costs low. The government heavily subsidises electricity. 

• Charging prices matter significantly for EV adoption, especially in Africa, as they affect the cost of owning a vehicle. Lower energy costs for EVs are the core financial argument for switching from fuel cars.  

• Our take: A new charging tariff increase in Egypt will raise the cost of owning an EV, which could slow down sales… Read more (2 min)