…Vehicles to be introduced to rest of Africa
As the globe inches into a world without oil and gas, Vaya Africa, a Mauritius-registered company specialising in the transport of people and goods in Africa, has launched a new fleet of electric taxis and charging facilities in Zimbabwe.
The vehicles are called “Vaya Electric” and the ambition expected to push towards the rest of Africa. Launched on May 28, 2020, the new electric cabs will enable Vaya Africa to save up to 40% on major fuel operating and regular maintenance costs, unlike conventional vehicles that run on fossil fuels.
The company said it plans to deploy the Vaya electric vehicle in West and East Africa. The fleet of electric vehicles will include passenger vehicles, motorcycles, vans, buses and dump trucks, all using the Vaya platform.
A report by Afrik21, said the electric taxi network was developed by Zimbabwean entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa, the president and founder of Econet Wireless, a global telecommunications company.
The South African headquarters of Vaya Africa has acquired a series of Nissan Leaf electric vehicles and has developed its own solar charging stations.
Vaya said its targets to introduce on-demand electric taxi services and offer services in their markets. Adding that will be launched in Zimbabwe as Vaya finalizes partnerships to launch electric taxi and on-demand delivery services in markets that could include Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia.
“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,” says Dorothy Zimuto, CEO of Vaya Mobility.
She explained that the vehicles will require minimal regular maintenance of their electrical systems, including the battery and electric motors.
The cars will also have stronger brakes thanks to a regenerative braking system, where the battery is charged in the event of a power outage.
Vaya Africa’s electric taxis will be recharged using solar energy and the charging stations deployed in Zimbabwe. These have been installed by Ugesi Energy, a subsidiary of Econet Wireless, to provide electric vehicle owners with recharging options in most parts of the country.
This fits well with our vision of inclusive technology growth across Africa,” explains Dorothy Zimuto, CEO of Vaya Mobility.
Chibisi Ohakah
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