Discover the silent, under-the-radar electric vehicle revolution happening in Kenya!

In this episode of The Africa EV Show, Njenga Hakeenah sits down with Peter Kihara, the visionary behind Teachers Transporters.

Kihara shares his incredible journey from the traditional transport industry to becoming a pioneer in customizing and importing Chinese electric vehicles ranging from motorcycles to tuk-tuks and small cars- specifically designed for African needs.

He reveals how he travels to China with designs "in his brain" to create affordable, practical EVs for the Kenyan market.

In this conversation, the two discuss competition with Chinese dealers, savings drivers made by switching from fuel to electric, and the company’s innovative "lease-to-own" financing model.

Kihara also has an ambitious plan to retrofit 200,000 petrol motorcycles to electric and locally assemble the vehicles, as well as the role of the government in boosting the sector.

This is a powerful story of African ingenuity, utilizing green technology to solve local problems and building a business that aims to become a billion-dollar company.

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The African electric vehicle (EV) market is projected to grow by 25 percent annually over the next five years. This means that stakeholders, including financiers, have to plan for this expansion if they are to benefit from the sector.

In this week’s conversation, Kwasi Frimpong from Citi discusses the challenges and opportunities in financing EVs in African countries. He highlights the economic barriers to EV adoption, including high upfront costs, limited infrastructure, and restrictive tariffs.

The discussion also covers the role of government policies, the impact of Chinese investment, and the need for diversified funding sources to support emerging mobility companies.

Kwasi emphasizes the importance of sustainable business models and the potential for exponential growth in the EV sector by 2030.

The key takeaways from this conversation are the significance of the e-mobility promise for Africa and how to diversify funding sources to address the economic barriers.

There’s also a surprise insight that e-mobility is not considered a high-risk sector by the bank, which is interesting given that the sector is still in its infancy in many African countries.

Kwasi also discusses how Chinese investment is reshaping the African auto market, as well as the future of the auto sector in Africa, considering the competing and complementary factors.

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E-mobility is beginning to take root in Uganda, and for companies like Spiro, success has hinged on listening closely to customers.

Just over a year after entering the market, Spiro has installed more than 150 charging stations nationwide, underscoring the demand for affordable mobility solutions. Central to its approach is a feedback-driven model of product development. Instead of relying solely on boardroom strategies or design studio concepts, the company incorporates input from riders at every stage. That process has already produced four iterations of its electric motorcycles, each shaped by consumer experience.

Still, the road ahead is far from smooth. Challenges persist in sourcing and manufacturing locally, as well as in securing financing options for would-be buyers. This episode highlights not only the obstacles but also the need for tailored, localized solutions, critical to meeting the unique demands of African consumers and unlocking the broader potential of e-mobility across the region. 

Robert Kayimbye, the Global Head of Marketing - Africa at Spiro, joins Njenga Hakeenah in this conversation, where he also shares the company’s plans for the next five years.

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This episode of The Africa EV show delves into the critical challenges facing electric mobility in Africa, particularly focusing on intra-African trade barriers. 

The discussion highlights how tariff walls, customs friction, and inconsistent standards hinder the movement of electric vehicle components and finished products across borders. The conversation also explores the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) in reducing these barriers, the impact of currency conversion on trade, and the challenges of human capital movement. 

Njenga Hakeenah hosts Samuel Kamunya, the Head of Business Development & Enterprise at BasiGo. He shares insights from experiences related to the electric bus assembly in Kenya and Rwanda, emphasizing the need for harmonized policies to foster growth in the EV sector.

The key takeaways highlight how intra-African trade barriers increase costs and hinder innovation, posing a significant challenge to EV adoption. There are also insights on currency conversion and the impact on profitability of cross-border trade, as well as visa requirements and the benefits that would come with harmonizing trade policies and enhanced regional integration.

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In this conversation, SGV co-founder and director, Evan Liu, joins The Africa EV Show host Njenga Hakeenah to discuss the evolving landscape of electric mobility in Africa, with a particular focus on Malawi's efforts to electrify transportation through SGV's initiatives.

The conversation examines the challenges of raising capital in the African market, the dynamics of global supply chains, and the importance of local manufacturing in achieving a competitive advantage. 

Among the discussion highlights are the significant cost savings offered by electric vehicles and the potential for local component assembly to foster sustainable growth in the region. Liu discusses the importance of local skills development and workforce training in the electric mobility sector in Malawi.

He emphasizes the need for partnerships with technical institutions and the establishment of apprenticeship programs to build a skilled workforce. Liu also shares insights on the challenges and lessons learned in the African investment space, highlighting the significance of transparency and quality inputs.

The conversation further explores the infrastructure needed for e-mobility, financing solutions for electric motorcycles, and the role of policy engagement in fostering growth.

Liu addresses the competition in the e-mobility sector and the unique challenges faced in the Malawian electric vehicle (EV) market.

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The electric vehicle market is heating up, but not in the way you might expect.

In this episode of The Africa EV Show, host Njenga Hakeenah is joined by Lei Xing, co-host of China EVs & More, to unpack the brutal price war currently shaking up the global EV industry and the implications for Africa’s emerging EV landscape.

At the center of this pricing battle is China’s EV giant BYD, which recently announced deep discounts that bring the price of its Seagull model down to just $8,000. While this may sound like a win for affordability, it could upend markets across the globe, including Africa.

We explore how these price cuts are pressuring smaller automakers, both in China and abroad, and ask whether Africa might become a dumping ground for “orphaned” EVs from brands that can’t survive the price war. There’s also the looming risk of poor after-sales service, disappearing warranties, and an influx of e-waste from cheap imports.

 This episode dives into whether African markets can compete by scaling up local assembly, adjusting tariff structures, and navigating the delicate balance between affordability and sustainability. We also take a closer look at who might survive this bloodbath. Tesla may have started the race, but BYD is taking it to extremes.

Key takeaways include:

• BYD’s aggressive price strategy is forcing smaller EV brands out of business at a record speed.
• African consumers risk being stranded if brands collapse and fail to provide ongoing support. 
• Chinese automakers are eyeing Africa for expansion, but after-sales service remains a significant weak spot.

If you care about the future of mobility in Africa, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Subscribe to The Africa EV Show for expert insights, and don’t forget to like, comment, and share to support more conversations that matter.

In this episode of The Africa EV Show, we spotlight a bold new player disrupting Kenya’s ride-hailing sector—not with cars, but electric two-wheelers. Meet Kijani Boda, a homegrown startup betting big on EV motorbikes powered largely by Chinese technology. As Kenya pushes toward a greener mobility future, Kijani Boda is positioning itself as a hyper-local alternative to giants like Uber and Bolt, offering affordable, low-maintenance transport while building a community around electric mobility. 

Host Njenga speaks with founder and CEO Kimani Ngugi about what sets Kijani Boda apart. From a commission-free first month for new drivers to their focus on local assembly and IoT integration, Kimani shares how the startup is rewriting the rules of urban transport. He discusses how policy support, infrastructure, and cost-efficiency are aligning to make EVs more viable for everyday Kenyans.

As Western-backed incumbents struggle with operational costs and market fit, can a Kenyan-first, electric-first platform change the game? Tune in for a candid and insightful look into the rise of Kijani Boda and the promise of electric mobility in Africa’s fast-changing urban landscape.

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In this impactful episode of The Africa EV Show, we speak with Jorgs Mbugua (CEO of eBikes Africa) and Dan Kamau (CEO of Ace Mobility), two Kenyan innovators transforming mobility for people with disabilities across the Global South.

They share how locally-built electric wheelchair attachments and adapted vehicles break barriers, reimagining Chinese EV platforms through partnerships with India, Colombia, and beyond. Dan also shares the personal story behind Ace Mobility, inspired by his paraplegic father, who lost his job due to transport inaccessibility.

The episode highlights Kenya’s pressing mobility gap: while only 4% of Kenyans own cars, infrastructure routinely excludes pedestrians and wheelchair users. Through inclusive design and advocacy, eBikes Africa and Ace Mobility prove that mobility is a right, not a privilege. This is more than a conversation, it’s a movement. Follow eBikes Africa and Ace Mobility to support inclusive mobility and help reshape Africa’s transport future.

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Kenya is emerging as a leader in Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) adoption, but how is artificial intelligence (AI) accelerating this transformation? In this episode of The Africa EV Show, Njenga Hakeenah sits down with Warren Ondanje, Managing Director of the Africa E-Mobility Alliance (AfEMA), to explore AI’s role in Kenya’s mobility future.

From optimizing battery performance and smart charging to predictive maintenance and route planning, Ondaje breaks down how AI operates "behind the scenes" in Kenya’s EVs—even if flashy features like self-driving cars remain distant.

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This week on The Africa EV Show we’re skipping the climate pitch and diving into the business playbook—discussing market segmentation, distribution, customer financing, and what it takes to scale an EV hardware company in a challenging yet high-potential market like Nigeria.

In this episode of the Africa EV Show, Njenga Hakeenah interviews Kenneth Ukpabia, CEO of Orbit Electric, about the company's innovative approach to electric mobility in Nigeria. They discuss the CF-1 electric motorcycle, focusing on market segmentation, logistics, strategies for affordability, and customer preferences regarding battery ownership. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities in the Nigerian electric vehicle market, emphasizing the importance of local assembly and customer-centric solutions.

Ukpabia also highlights the improvements in electricity supply in Lagos and outlines potential expansion plans beyond Nigeria.

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