Car & General To Deploy 30 CHAJI EV Charging Stations In Mombasa & Ukunda For Electric 3-Wheelers – CleanTechnica

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Three-wheelers, or tuk tuks as they are known in many parts of the world, are an integral part of the East African public transport ecosystem. We are starting to get a lot of good news around electrification of 3-wheelers in places like Tanzania and Kenya. Several startups, as well as established companies, are starting to offer more electric versions of popular 3-wheeler models. However, to really get public transport operators in this sector to adopt at scale, a widespread public charging network will be crucial. This is why I am excited to see that we are starting to see some great developments in this crucial area of public charging to enable electric tuk tuks to serve more areas.

In Tanzania, bus rapid transit (BRT) stations in Dar es Salaam are getting charging stations for 3-wheelers and other types of EVs. This will allow electric 3-wheeler operations to complement the BRT services with seamless last-mile services around the city. Dar es Salaam’s BRT is known as the DART (Dar Rapid Transit Agency). The DART began operations in 2016 and has 29 stations around Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam. At the moment, the buses are internal combustion engine-based. Hopefully, these will be replaced with electric buses in the near future.

There is more good news. After launching Piaggio electric 3-wheelers in the Kenyan city of Mombasa, Car & General has recently partnered with CHAJI to deploy 30 charging stations in the city to facilitate the seamless charging of these electric 3-wheelers in the country’s largest coastal city.

Car & General says, “We have introduced electric 3-wheelers (e3w) to Kenya’s roads, aiming to revolutionize our nation’s approach to transport in favour of cleaner, more sustainable options. We launched in Mombasa and Ukunda on 18 and 19th of September, respectively. As the infrastructure for charging these electric vehicles was not as widespread or reliable as needed for mass adoption, we are working with CHAJI, a company specializing in EV energy and charging solutions to overcome this challenge.”

Car & General adds that CHAJI’s smart socket charging solution is an ideal match for their electric 3-wheelers, which come equipped with quick charging capabilities through a provided off-board charger. This technology ensures that the e3ws can be rapidly and efficiently charged, minimizing downtime, and significantly enhancing the appeal of electric vehicles for commercial use and passenger use.

“This partnership has been instrumental in our ability to assure our clientele of the viability of e3w as a practical alternative to traditional fuel-based transport. The collaboration with CHAJI has allowed us to focus on our core business — sales and distribution of electric 3-wheelers — while leaving the critical aspect of charging infrastructure in capable hands. So far, we have installed around 30 charging points in Mombasa and Ukunda at the Kenyan Coast, for a start.” 

If you have ever been to Mombasa, Kenya, and other towns in the coastal regions, such as Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi, and Diani, you may have noticed that 3-wheelers are an integral part of the transport ecosystem in the coastal region. Currently, Mombasa on its own has close to 15,000 passenger 3-wheeler units on the road with internal combustion engines, making it a key transport mode for the region.

3-wheelers are also used in other parts of the country, and 99% of these 3-wheelers are still internal combustion engine-based. Accelerating the transition to electric will go a long way in reducing emissions from these 3-wheelers, as well as reducing noise pollution. The entry of large players such as Car & General into Kenya’s electric 3-wheeler sector, as well as the roll-out of charging infrastructure by players such as Chaji, will go a long way along the journey to catalyze the adoption of electric vehicles in Kenya.

Images courtesy of Car & General