Players in the e-mobility sector are calling for more charging stations across the country to further deepen the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) among Rwandans.
According to statistics from Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), hybrid cars imported into Rwanda increased from 28 in 2021 to 6,660 in 2024, while purely electric ones increased from 19 in 2020 to 512 in 2024.
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Speaking to The New Times, Donald Kabanda, the Chairman of Rwanda E-Mobility and CEO of Rwanda Electric Motors Ltd, said that the absence of charging points in some places can discourage people living or traveling there from buying EVs.
"If someone is planning to buy a vehicle, they can ask themselves if they will be able to charge it whenever they go. You may be thinking, "Will I charge it when I go to the countryside? If not, they can decide to buy the fuel non-electric vehicles,” he said.
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The price of a relatively simple EV charging point with tax exemption is Rwf 3 million, while more advanced ones cost about Rwf 30 million.
The Rwanda Green Fund and various industry experts emphasise the importance of expanding charging infrastructure to accelerate EVs uptake.
Rwanda Green Fund through Ireme Invest, has invested in building charging infrastructure, working together with an e-mobility company known as Kabisa.
Under the partnership, 15 EVs charging stations will be built in twelve satellite cities across the country including Nyamata, Rwamagana, Muhanga, Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Nyamagabe-Kitabi, Huye, Rubengera, Nyirangarama, Burera, and Nyagatare.
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They are also planning to expand their investment in EVs charging infrastructure for electric buses and electric trucks.
David Musoni, an e-bus driver in Kigali, also noted that the availability of charging stations affects the adoption of EVs.
"People won’t buy vehicles if they can’t find places to charge them. Once there are charging points across the country, the concerns of those hesitant to switch will be reduced,” he noted.
Iliiza Karangwa, Marketing Manager at Kabisa, said people need to have the assurance that charging will be accessible and simple to do if they purchase an EV.
"Placing these points across the country will ease the range of anxiety that people have,” she said.
"We currently have them located in every province and we're working hard with our partners to implement them in more locations to increase accessibility. This will bring relief to those interested in switching to electric,” she added.
Karim Salum, Business Development Manager at Basigo, one of the e-mobility companies in Rwanda, pointed out that though the government has exempted taxes on some EVs infrastructures and products, there is still need to support the industry by easing access to spare parts of the vehicles.
"We call upon the government to consider extending similar tax incentives to spare parts for electric buses as well as to the accessories for setting up charging infrastructure (the bulkier and more expensive accessories such as transformers and cables),” he said.