Meta Electric, a business unit of META Group Africa, has launched Kenya’s first Electric service delivery vans
Speaking during the unveiling of the vehicles dubbed The BYD T3 Electric Vans (EVs), Meta Electric General Manager, Mr. Brian Chege said the initiative is to promote greener transportation and pave way for investment in the electric vehicle industry.
“EV’s help save on major costs compared to any internal combustion engine vehicle,” said Chege.
He said the vehicles are economical since they cost less in terms of fuel price and will be a key drive in fighting climate change.
Mr. Chege said, “EVs are zero-emission and are built to promote cleaner air and aiding in the fight against pollution and climate change.”
The vans come with an AC charger (8 hours charging time) and an optional DC charger (1.5 hours) and has a range of 300 kilometres, or 250 kilometres at full capacity.
The T3 delivery vans are manufactured by Build Your Dreams (BYD) Company Ltd., one of the largest Chinese manufacturers of rechargeable batteries in the world.
For a perfection test on Kenya’s highways, Neo Kenya Mpya, a transport company has been picked to use the vans as trial for different electric solutions.
Neo Kenya Mpya Managing Director, Douglas Kuria has called on other players in the industry to help government to plan terminus and parking lots by substituting EVs for diesel-powered vehicles.
“We are optimistic that META Electric T3 Vans will play a part in reducing the huge proportion of greenhouse gasses that comes from passenger transport. We must all work together with Government to improve planning of city roads, terminus and parking spaces so that EVs can seamlessly substitute diesel-powered vehicles. Our goal is that at least ten percent of our fleet is powered sustainably by 2025,”said Kuria.
META Group Africa has also announced plans sell and lease EVs in East African market to customers who want to make the switch to cleaner transportation.According to META Group Africa, Kenya’s vehicle fleet is set to double between 2016 and 2023 and plans to utilise the EV as means to limiting environmental damage
