NopeaRide is powering up its all-electric fleet using the new solar hub positioned at six location points across Nairobi.
After an agreement signed off by EkoRent Africa and Strathmore Energy Research Centre, Kenya has now established a framework for setting up its first Nopea SolarHub Electric Vehicle Charging station.
EkoRent is supported by InfraCo and EEP Africa. The Finnish based company got its start Kenya in 2017 where it opened an all-electric e-hailing taxi service called NopeaRide.
Recently they signed a Solar Charging Project Collaboration Agreement with Strathmore Energy Research Centre to create solar powered charging stations for electric vehicles.
Juha Suojanen, Founder and CEO of EkoRent spoke at the signing of the event where he mentioned their ambitions to scale localised mobility solutions across Kenya and the rest of Africa.
“The collaboration announced today is an exciting next step for NopeaRide in Nairobi. We look forward to cooperating with Strathmore Energy Research Centre, through its dedicated Research and Consultancy Centre, in finding localised solutions to further promote clean mobility in Kenya and Africa,” said Suojanen.
The Nopea SolarHub charging stations are the first of its kind for Kenya, which may come as a surprise considering Kenya’s sundrenched location. Its geographic positioning makes it ideal for harvesting clean solar energy in an effort to lower carbon emissions in transport.
“The Nopea SolarHub charging stations on the Strathmore University campus are the first of their kind in Africa and show how it is possible to efficiently combine clean energy and clean mobility solutions,” explained Suojanen.
The terms of the agreement highlight how NopeaRide will be able to install a Nopea SolarHub and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Strathmore University campus. Professor Izael Da Silva, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Strathmore University, said the partnership was monumental in achieving zero-emission mobility in Africa.
“Africa is in the midst of robust technical developments and innovation. Strathmore University prepares students to create projects that address societal issues. Higher education institutions are think tanks where solutions to societal problems are produced, hence partnering with corporations to advance such revolutionary agendas is critical,” said Da Silva.
Sub-Saharan Africa investment firm InfraCo hopes the collaboration between EkoRent and Strathmore University will evolve to demonstrate the broader value of combining electric mobility with solar technology in the fight against climate change. Ravi Dhanani, InfraCo Africa’s Asset Manager: “We expect that this initiative will provide learning for InfraCo Africa’s wider EV portfolio.”
Lotta Wilkman, Portfolio Coordinator at EEP Africa: “The SolarHub charging station for NopeaRide’s fleet of electric taxis will reduce traffic pollution and provide increased income for drivers in Nairobi and serve as a model for clean and affordable transport solutions across Africa.”
The SolarHub charging stations should be operational in the second half of 2022.
