As African cities grow, they are choking even faster from diesel-belching public transport vehicles, which remain the backbone of urban life.

In this episode of The Africa EV Show, we explore how Chinese electric buses (e-buses) are reshaping urban mobility across the continent and whether this shift represents true industrial transformation or simply a new form of dependency. Drawing lessons from China's large-scale e-bus rollout, we examine what's happening in cities like Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, and Dakar as Chinese OEMs partner with African governments and startups.

Joining host Njenga Hakeenah is Prian Reddy, Senior Manager for Zero-Emission Buses at C40 Cities, who leads electric bus work across the continent. Together, they unpack the hard questions: • Are Chinese-African e-bus partnerships building real local manufacturing capacity? • Can African cities move beyond assembly into batteries, software, and core EV components? • Who controls data, financing, and power grids in this new electric transit ecosystem? • Do pay-as-you-go models empower operators — or create long-term technological lock-in?

This episode goes beyond headlines to explore policy, financing, skills, minerals, grids, and industrial value chains, offering a clear-eyed look at what it will take for Africa's electric bus revolution to deliver jobs, cleaner air, and lasting economic value.

As always, subscribe to The Africa EV Show for in-depth conversations on electric mobility, energy transition, and Africa's industrial future.

Also, join the discussion in the comments: Are electric buses Africa's path to green industrialization — or a missed opportunity?

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Electric motorcycles are transforming transportation across Nigeria — fast. But behind the boom is a much more complex story involving Chinese technology, geopolitics, affordability, and the future of local manufacturing. In this episode of The Africa EV Show, Njenga Hakeenah sits down with industry insider Daniel Nyakora, who has worked at the center of Africa's accelerating two-wheeler electrification.

From Lagos to Abuja, Chinese-built EV motorcycles are reshaping the market, offering cheaper energy alternatives as fuel prices soar — yet raising new questions about technological dependence and long-term sustainability. We explore:

🔹 Why Nigeria's fuel subsidy removal triggered the EV rush 🔹 How Chinese companies gained dominance so quickly 🔹 Whether reliance on imported tech is a short-term catalyst or long-term risk 🔹 Tankvolt's "Techno-style" playbook and distribution advantage 🔹 Financing challenges for riders and small businesses 🔹 Battery swapping and the energy infrastructure dilemma

This is one of the most important mobility transitions happening on the continent — and its outcomes could shape Africa's transport future for decades.

As always, please subscribe to The Africa EV Show for more insightful conversations on the people, policies, and partnerships reshaping mobility across the continent.

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In this episode, we go behind the scenes of African hardware innovation with Eugene Wang'ombe, founder of Husksberry Engineering. In this episode of The Africa EV Show, we explore the real challenges and strategic choices facing local manufacturers who are building advanced products like electric go-karts from the ground up.

Wang'ombe reveals why China remains the go-to source for critical components—from electric motors and batteries to specialized tooling—and the trade-offs between cost, customizability, and local knowledge transfer.

We also tackle the big questions: Can Kenya ever manufacture a fully local EV? What's stopping billionaires from investing in local factories? And why is it so hard to find like-minded engineers to build an industrial ecosystem?

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Can electric vehicles really thrive in a country where second-hand petrol and diesel cars still rule the roads? 🇬🇭

In this episode of The Africa EV Show, host Njenga Hakeenah sits down with Eddie Opoku, founder of Ghana's Ryde Channel, to unpack the realities of electric mobility in one of West Africa's most dynamic car markets.

From the streets of Accra, where Chinese-made EVs are popping up beside used Toyotas, to the challenges of charging infrastructure, battery confidence, and resale value, this conversation explores the forces shaping Ghana's transition from internal combustion to electric.

🔋 Topics Covered:

• Why Ghana's second-hand market still dominates — and how EVs are breaking through

• The rise of affordable Chinese EVs and the brands leading the charge

• Charging access and local infrastructure gaps

• Consumer trust, resale value, and battery health concerns

• Policy shifts and local assembly — can Ghana build its own EV industry?

👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into Africa's electric mobility revolution — from Nairobi to Accra to Cape Town!

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In this episode of The Africa EV Show, host Njenga Hakeenah sits down with Alex Mũnene, Founder and fleet mobility expert at Advanced Mobility Kenya, to explore how training programs are shaping the continent's electric vehicle shift.

From driver and mechanic training to policy and investment lessons from Rwanda, Ethiopia, and the DRC, this episode dives deep into how skills development, education, and hands-on programs are preparing Africa for the electric future.

Mũnene, who organized Kenya's first EV driver and technical training, shares on-the-ground insights about:

⚡ The biggest challenges for mechanics transitioning from ICE to EVs

⚡ The growing role of private sector and partnerships in e-mobility training

⚡ What new EV owners need to know before hitting the road

⚡ Why Rwanda and Ethiopia are ahead — and what Kenya can learn

Whether you're an EV enthusiast, mechanic, policymaker, or just curious about Africa's mobility transformation — this episode is for you.

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Welcome to The Africa EV Show, where we explore the forces driving Africa's clean mobility revolution from policy and technology to the people shaping the future of transport.

In this episode, host Njenga Hakeenah sits down with Dennis Wakaba, an e-mobility consultant and industry expert, to unpack Kenya's double approach to help with the shift to e-mobility from importing fully built EVs to assembling locally-made electric buses, cars, and motorbikes many powered by Chinese technology.

This week, the discussion focuses on how Chinese EV tech is continuing to shape Kenya's electric mobility landscape, the challenges and opportunities in local EV assembly and manufacturing, why affordability and scale remain the biggest roadblocks, what happens when an EV battery "dies" and the ever-concerning issue of data privacy. The conversation also looks at safety and the lessons from recent EV crashes of the Xiaomi SU7 in Chengdu, China and the reality of Kenya's EV charging infrastructure and what's next

Listen till the end to hear Dennis's thoughts on whether Kenya can make "Buy Kenya, Build Kenya" a true reality in the EV space.

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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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