Tag: Electric car

Lexo Energy secures US$14m loan from IFC to install electric vehicle charging stations in Kenya and Tanzania

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KENYA – Lexo Energy, a leading fuel retailer in East Africa, plans to gradually install electric vehicle charging stations in Kenya and Tanzania after a US$14 million  loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The energy company, which was established in Kenya in 2017, is involved in the distribution of diesel and petrol through its network of 33 retail fuel stations in Kenya and 7 stations in Tanzania. Lexo leases fuel stations from the owners and operates the stations under its brand. The company plans to use the IFC loan to…

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Glencore to restart operations at Mutanda copper, cobalt mine in DRC in 2022

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DRC – Anglo-Swiss multinational mining company Glencore has announced plans to restart operations at Mutanda, the world’s biggest cobalt mine that also produces large amounts of copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2022, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Glencore, one of the world’s largest copper producers and leading cobalt producer, said in February 2021 that the process to resume production at Mutanda was underway, but did not give a specific date. Copper is a vital material for the power and construction industries, and it…

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Chinese car battery maker CATL buys stake in DRC cobalt mine for US$137.5m

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DRC – Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) has announced that its subsidiary would take a stake in China Molybdenum Co’s Kisanfu copper/cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for US$137.5-million. The investment gives CATL access to one of the world’s largest undeveloped sources of cobalt, an ingredient in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Cobalt prices are up more than 50% this year on surging EV demand and concerns of a supply squeeze. Under a strategic partnership agreement, Ningbo Brunp CATL New Energy Co will take…

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Taxi-hailing firm Bolt introduces eco-friendly rides

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KENYA – Taxi services firm Bolt has introduced a new ride category on its platform dubbed Bolt Green to offer eco-friendly rides as the company moves towards reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.  In a statement issued to the press, the platform said the category will have hybrid and electric cars in which it aim to reduce emissions during trips taken on the Bolt platform thus offering greener transport options. The eco-friendly ride will attract similar rates as the Bolt Base category, with a minimum fare of US$2.74 and passengers will be able…

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Nasr Automotive partners China’s Dongfeng for reconstruction of its factory to produce electric cars

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EGYPT – Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Company, of the Ministry of Public Enterprise, has signed two agreements with China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation to reconstruct its factory to produce the first electric car in Egypt. In a press conference, El Nasr Automotive CEO and Managing Director Hany El Kholy said that the first electric vehicle will be produced in Egypt at the beginning of 2022. El Kholy said that the percentage of local components in Egyptian electric vehicles will reach 58%. He added that El Nasr has contracted with the Chinese company…

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Marathon Motors introduces first electric car assembled locally

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ETHIOPIA – Marathon Motors, a car engineering company owned by of Olympic record holder Ethiopian athlete and investor, Athlete Haile Gebrselassie, has introduced the first electric car assembled in Ethiopia. The new electric automobile assembled in Ethiopia will be from South Korea’s the major car manufacturer, Hyundai. The car can be charged at home like a cellphone and can travel 304 kilometres after fully charged. In addition, a 50 kilowatts portable charger can also charge the car fully in 30 minutes. When the production of the car increases, Marathon Motors…

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Egypt to start electric cars in 2021 to cut down on carbon emissions

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Electric Cars in Egypt

EGYPT – Egypt has announced intentions to start the production of electric cars as from 2021 to cut down on carbon emissions which affect the air quality in Egypt’s major cities and contribute to global warming. Egypt’s Minister of Public Enterprise Hisham Tawfik  in a phone interview with Egypt Today revealed that the North African country would start producing 25,000 electric cars annually starting 2021. Tawfik further revealed that the environment friendly vehicles will be affordable as each unit will be sold to consumers LE 300,000 (US$18,600). According to a…

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Tesla set to become first foreign automaker to operate a fully owned car plant in China

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CHINA – American automotive and energy company Tesla Inc has received an approval from the Chinese government to set up a manufacturing plant and commence operations in the second largest economy in the world. China’s industry ministry said in October this year that it had added Tesla to a government list of approved automotive manufacturers and had already granted the electric-vehicle maker a certificate it needs to start production in the country. Speaking on the recent development, Yale Zhang, head of the Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight said that Tesla had…

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Zimbabwe keen to set up electric vehicle infrastructure

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ZIMBABWE – The government of Zimbabwe is exploring avenues of accommodating electric vehicles (EVs) in the country by setting up the requisite charging infrastructure, which is the backbone of the innovation. Energy and Power Development minister Fortune Chasi said that he was overwhelmed by requests by diasporans over the need to set up charging infrastructure in the country, reports News day. “I am going to drive the issue of electric vehicles. We actually do not have a choice, if you read the literature around the transformation and disruption that is…

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Volkswagen South Africa eyes Rwanda’s electric vehicle market

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SOUTH AFRICA – Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA), leading electric car producer in Africa, has unveiled plans of introducing electric cars in Rwanda, reports Business Report. According to Thomas Schaefer, managing director of VWSA, the motor company has already conducted a market survey in the country and confirmed suitability of the venture. “We did a grid check in Rwanda together with GRZ (Technologies) and Siemens last year and they are ready. They already get their electricity from 70percent renewable energy and that will change to 100percent in the next 10 years,”…

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