Kabisa & Societe Petroliere Partner to Expand EV Charging Infrastructure Across Rwanda – CleanTechnica

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Rwanda is one of the few countries on the African continent that has very progressive policies for electric vehicles. These policies include some pretty cool incentives for EVs, such as the following.

Fiscal Incentives:

• Electricity tariffs for charging stations to be capped at the industrial tariff. This means that charge point operators are being billed at close to 50% of standard industrial tariffs.
• Electric vehicles also benefit from reduced tariffs during off-peak periods.
• Electric vehicles, spare parts, batteries, and charging station equipment are exempted from import and excise duties. All of these are treated as zero-rated VAT products and will also be exempt from withholding tax.

Non-Fiscal Incentives:

• Rent-free land for charging station on land owned by the government.
• Provisions for EV charging stations in the building code and city planning rules.
• Green license plate to allow preferential parking for EVs and free entry into any future congestion zones.
• Access to dedicated bus lanes.
• Provide preference to electric vehicles for government-hired vehicles.
• Regulate the importation of used vehicles by imposing an age limit.
• Establish restricted zones where only green vehicles can have access.
• Enforcement of existing emission standards to discourage the purchase of polluting vehicles.

These incentives have helped catalyse investments into the country’s EV sector. One of the leading players in Rwanda’s EV space is Kabisa. In an exciting development that will help address charging infrastructure fears and range anxiety, Societe Petroliere Ltd (SP) and Kabisa have announced a strategic partnership to build a nationwide network of EV charging stations. Kabisa is a pioneering electric vehicle company focused on advancing e-mobility through providing high-quality affordable EV sales, EV charging stations, and maintenance services at EV garages. Kabisa aims to create a sustainable future by making electric vehicles more accessible and convenient for all.

This collaboration was unveiled at an exclusive industry stakeholders event held on the 9th of August, bringing together chief executives and representatives from Societe Petroliere Ltd (SP), Rwanda Green Fund, and MeshPower. Following the successful completion of a pilot project where Kabisa installed three charging stations at selected SP gas stations, the two companies are thrilled to take their partnership to the next level. In the next three months, Kabisa and SP will work together to install 15 charging stations with chargers across Rwanda. The charging stations will consist of Level 2 (7.3kW) chargers. MeshPower will assist in the installation of these new charging stations, leveraging their expertise in sustainable energy solutions.

The new rollout will double the number of chargers on Kabisa’s network, increasing from 15 stations to 30 and further expanding charging accessibility for the general public in Rwanda. This partnership will essentially bring EV charging infrastructure to every corner of the country, ensuring that there will be at least one charging station for every 100 km and making EV transportation possible. This ambitious project is made possible by the generous investment from Ireme Invest through the Rwandan Green Fund, which has been instrumental in supporting green projects aimed at promoting sustainable development in Rwanda. 

“The pilot project is demonstrating a growing uptake of EVs in Rwanda and the urgent needs for national EV charging coverage,” said Lukas Lukoschek, cofounder at Kabisa. “We are excited to expand our network of charging stations, making EV charging more accessible to drivers across Rwanda.”

“We are very excited about this partnership with Kabisa. SP has always been about enabling people’s movement and trade and facilitating energy transition. Thanks to our extensive retail network countrywide, we are in a position to support Kabisa’s initiative to roll out EV chargers outside of Kigali which is great. It will certainly enable quicker adoption of EV vehicles in Rwanda. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Green Fund and Ireme Invest who is also playing a key role in this,” said Yves Legrux, CEO at Société Pétrolière Rwanda.

Images courtesy of Kabisa