Listed utility company Kenya Power & Lighting Company Plc (KPLC) is investing KSh 6.5 million to establish a second public electric vehicle (EV) charging station at Stima Plaza.
The station will have fast (50 kW DC, 1-hour charge) and regular (22 kW AC, 2-hour charge) options.
Kenya Power’s first station serves its electric company vehicles at the Ruaraka depot.
“We have set aside an annual budget of KSh 20 million to set up EV charging stations at all our offices across the country. Beyond the additional EV charging stations that we intend to put up in the current financial year, we intend to install ten additional facilities annually in 2025 and 2026,” said Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror.
The utility company has purchased two electric heavy-duty vehicles (KSh 18 million) and plans to acquire nine more and 25 electric motorcycles by the end of 2024 for their operations.
In addition, it says an annual budget of KSh 20 million is allocated to set up charging stations at all Kenya Power offices nationwide.
Nine stations are planned for Donholm, Nakuru, Mombasa, Mtito Andei, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Roysambu by July 2024.
Kenya Power aims to use data collected from their charging stations to inform future support for the growing e-mobility sector. Over the next three years, their investment is estimated to hit KSh 258 million.
Kenya’s EV Ecosystem
Kenya Power’s EV initiatives align with the recently implemented e-mobility tariff approved by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). This tariff offers lower electricity rates for EV charging (KSh 16 per kWh peak, KSh 8 off-peak) than domestic rates (around KSh 20 per kWh).
The Electric Mobility Taskforce recently concluded public consultations to finalize Kenya’s comprehensive EV policy framework.
The e-Mobility Taskforce’s objectives include developing a National Electric Mobility Policy (the e-Mobility Policy) to create an enabling environment for developing and adopting electric vehicles in Kenya.
