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- Where off-grid chargers are key for EVs
Where off-grid chargers are key for EVs
Dear subscriber,
Should demand for EVs precede charging stations or should developers build the infrastructure to attract buyers? This is a chicken and egg problem. For some companies, building first, especially in remote areas, is a winning strategy.
Brian Ambani - Editor
 | South African EV charging company Charge has broken ground on two off-grid solar-powered stations along the N3, one of the country’s busiest transport routes. Charge built its first off-grid charger and proof of concept last year. It comes months after it secured a R 100 million ($5.8 million) equity investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). |
EV companies in Africa are investing heavily in off-grid charging stations, mainly powered by solar, to facilitate sales in remote areas with unreliable or no electricity connection.
Building off-grid chargers is capital-intensive and beyond what the majority of startups can afford. They are partnering with renewable energy companies like CrossBoundary on long-term power purchase agreements.
Our take: Patient capital is key for off-grid charging networks to take off in rural Africa… Read more (2 min)
 | Electrogenic, a UK-based company that converts fuel vehicles into EVs,, has begun operations in Kenya to retrofit safari Land Rover Defenders. It has partnered with Sarara, a conservancy and safari lodge, to electrify its fleet of tour vehicles. They have so far converted three Defenders. Their ‘drop-in’ technology integrates either the E62 kit or the E93 kit. |
EV conversions for vehicles are becoming increasingly common across Africa. They reduce the upfront cost of adopting electric mobility and take significantly less time to complete than purchasing new EVs.
Sarara joins the likes of Emboo camp, Giraffe Manor, Sasaab, Sala’s Camp, Solio Lodge, Ila Safari Lodge, Lwea Wilderness, Shawa Luangwa Camp and Cheetah Plains which use EV-converted safari vehicles.
Our take: Scalability of EV retrofitting is a major bottleneck, limiting its impact in the EV transition … Read more (2 min)
 | Mobility Rising has tracked five key policy developments in the electric vehicle sector announced in Africa in the past month. Two of them were announced in Ghana, and one each in Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco. While some of the policies will improve the electric vehicle sector in the respective countries, others could potentially derail its rapid growth rate. |
Our Policy Tracker this month reveals a dilemma faced by African: With EV sales growing, how do they make up for the loss of critical fuel tax revenue? Morocco may ease some of the incentives granted to hybrids and EVs.
Policy shifts in Ghana and Nigeria this month highlight that governments are shifting from early experimentation to structured, enforceable frameworks designed to ensure safety, reliability, investment confidence, and long-term sector growth.
Our take: The private sector cannot thrive if governments do not implement clear, supportive and predictable EV policies… Read more (2 min)
Max CEO Adetayo Bamiduro shares his views on e-mobility at the Nigerian Green Tech Expo (Source: Adetayo Bamiduro)
Jobs
💼 Become a Key Account & Business Development Personnel at Spiro (Togo)
👨🏻💼 Join Greenwheels as a Head of Fleet Operations (Kenya)
🛠️ Apply for Junior Assembly Technician at Dodai (Ethiopia)
Events
📅 Sign up on our green jobs in the EV sector online workshop (Nov 28)
📅 Register for EV Revolution Africa Conference in Ghana (Dec 3)
📅 Book a slot at the EVs Electrify Egypt (Dec 12)
Various
🚘 NIO firefly brand is ready for South Africa
🤝 Kemet Automotive partners with Africa Design School to build EV talent
💰 French Development Bank Proparco enters the EV fray with BasiGo investment
Seen on LinkedIn
Alex Kiragu, a market entry Advisor, says, “E-mobility cannot thrive on unpredictable power. Blackouts, transformer overloads, and unstable voltage damage batteries and disrupt operations. Startups are forced to invest heavily in alternative power increasing costs.”