As it looks to new revenue sources from e-mobility, Kenya Power will start a six-month experiment on electric car charging stations in Nairobi and Nakuru the next month.

The corporation is aiming to increase power sales in order to take advantage of the expanding e-mobility market, which has witnessed increased demand for electric vehicles due to high fuel prices worldwide.

Automobile owners have been considering many options to reduce the cost of transportation, such as switching to electric cars or modifying their vehicles to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Currently, Kenya Power is preparing to test the viability of an e-mobility network infrastructure system (Enis) in Nairobi and Nakuru for a period of six months.

To make it simpler for EV owners to charge their vehicles, the corporation will create residential, business, and public charging infrastructure across the nation once the project is fully implemented.

According to Kenya Power, which is looking for electric vehicle companies to carry out the experiment, "the proof of concept phase will be used by Kenya Power to design and pilot the proposed e-mobility system in a scaled way inside Nairobi and Nakuru."

Before deciding to roll out the EV charging business on a large scale, the company claimed the trial will help it gather important data on the potential of the industry.

Prior to a full-scale implementation, "the phase will allow Kenya Power a hands-on experience to analyze the potential and complexity of the e-mobility ecosystem," it stated.

According to projections from the Ministry of Energy, new vehicle registrations in the nation will increase at a rate of 4% annually across all categories, with motorbikes and passenger vehicles accounting for the majority of this growth.

According to Kenya Power, which is looking for electric vehicle companies to carry out the experiment, "the proof of concept phase will be used by Kenya Power to design and pilot the proposed e-mobility system in a scaled way inside Nairobi and Nakuru."

Before deciding to roll out the EV charging business on a large scale, the company claimed the trial will help it gather important data on the potential of the industry.

Prior to a full-scale implementation, "the phase will allow Kenya Power a hands-on experience to analyze the potential and complexity of the e-mobility ecosystem," it stated.

However, Kenya's market for electric vehicles is still in its infancy and is rather tiny.

Only 350 electrical vehicles were in the country in 2018, according to ministry data, even though that figure has increased since then.

If 29% of new car registrations are EVs by 2040, the government wants to see 53,800 EVs on the road nationwide.

Following its diversification into the home and business internet market, Kenya Power is now pursuing EV business as part of its strategy to boost revenue.

In March, Kenya Power declared that it could provide the electricity required to charge motorcycles and electric cars at non-peak times.

During off-peak hours, the business said it could provide enough electricity to power 50,000 buses and two million motorcycles. This is based on calculations that show an electric minibus operating in Nairobi travels about 200 km each day and uses, on average, 120 kWh at a cost of Sh2,400.

In order to promote its e-mobility business, the corporation claimed to have established a liaison office that will serve as a one-stop shop.

Through the office, Kenya Power will collaborate with other stakeholders to support the growth of the e-mobility eco-system. This will include identifying potential locations for charging station locations and developing the necessary geo-mapping tools to help users find the closest charging station.

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) and other State-run businesses have both intensified their preparations for the transition to e-mobility. For instance, KenGen has already set up an electric vehicle charging station in Nairobi and said that it will send in electric vehicles to evaluate the facility and contribute to data that is essential to advancing legislation.