Meta Electric, which is a business unit of Meta Group Africa, has today launched a set of Electric Service delivery Vans. The T3 Electric Vans are manufactured by Build Your Dreams (BYD), a huge Chinese manufacture of automobiles, battery-powered bicycles, buses, solar panels, rechargeable batteries and much more.
The Electric Vans which offer up to 300KM range (or up to 250KM at full capacity), come with an AC charger allowing up to 8-hrs charging time, and an optional DC Charger which takes 1.5hrs to fill up. The General Manager of Meta Electric showcased the new Service Vans at a launch today. The company says it is bringing in the units in a bid to promote greener transportation and pave the way for investment in the electric vehicle industry.
META Group Africa wants to become a leading supplier of these electric commercial vehicles and plans to both sell and lease units to the East African market and to customers who want to make the switch to cleaner transportation. As the costs of production reduce over time, the case to switch over to electric mobility becomes more and more compelling thus driving the total cost of ownership for electric vehicles considerably lower than those of internal combustion engines.
“Owning and driving the T3 Electric van is indeed a bold statement for any company especially in Kenya. EV’s help save on major costs compared to any internal combustion engine vehicle. They greatly reduce operating expenses as they beat the diesel competition hands down costing less than half for fuel, Service, maintenance and repairs at very reasonable mileage. In addition EV’s are zero-emission thus promoting cleaner air and aiding in the fight against pollution and climate change,” says Brian Chege, General Manager for META Electric.
Meta Electric says Transport Company NEO KENYA MPYA, one of Nairobi’s biggest public bus operators, will be trialing the Electric Vans for different solutions.
“We are optimistic that META Electric T3 Vans will play a part in reducing the huge proportion of greenhouse gasses that comes from passenger transport. We must all work together with Government to improve planning of city roads, terminus and parking spaces so that EVs can seamlessly substitute diesel-powered vehicles. Our goal is that at least ten percent of our fleet is powered sustainably by 2025. Said Douglas Kuria, CEO of Neo Kenya Mpya Limited.
The African Sustainable Transport Forum, led by the UN, is working with the government and private sector to integrate sustainable transport into the region’s development and planning processes, and to increase the amount of funding going to sustainable transport in Africa. The country’s vehicle fleet is set to double between 2016 and 2023 so switching to electric mobility will be essential for public health and limiting environmental damage.
