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• Perfects Partnership Plans for Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, South Africa
Zimbabwe has joined the league of a few African countries currently embracing the adoption of electric vehicles for public transportation.
Last week in Harare, the country’s capital, VAYA Africa, a transportation company owned by Zimbabwean entrepreneur, Strive Masiyiwa, the president and founder of Econet Wireless, a global telecommunications company, launched the VAYA electric taxi service into the local market.
The company which rolled out a fleet of the VAYA Electric at the launch also inaugurated some charging facilities for the electric taxis. The solar energy and charging stations deployed across Zimbabwe were installed by Ugesi Energy, a subsidiary of Econet Wireless, to provide electric vehicle owners with recharging options in most parts of the country.
With plans to extend the VAYA Electric to other parts of Africa, especially West and East Africa, the company is currently perfecting partnerships plans to enable it launch the electric taxi and on-demand delivery services in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia.
Already, the South African headquarters of Vaya Africa has acquired a number of Nissan Leaf electric vehicles and has also developed its own solar charging stations for the vehicles.
Commenting on the full embrace of electric vehicles by VAYA Africa, CEO of Vaya Mobility, Dorothy Zimuto, said: “These vehicles do not produce CO2 and do not generate air pollution when used. Our goal is to make all vehicles available on the Vaya platform electric within the next ten years.”
On the advantage of the electric vehicles over those with internal combustion engines Zimuto said: “The vehicles will require minimal regular maintenance of their electrical systems, including the battery and electric motors.
“These cars will also have stronger brakes thanks to a regenerative braking system, where the battery is charged in the event of a power outage.”
• SOURCE: Afrik21
