The world is moving towards electric vehicles at an accelerating rate in a bid to reduce carbon emissions from combustion engines that depend on fossil fuels.
The adoption of EVs, especially by developed economies is in line with the Paris Agreement Agenda to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050.
On the other hand, it is a reflection of the economic strength of countries as struggling or developing economies take the back seat in the global drive for the transition to Electric Vehicles.
Nigeria has also subscribed to the global agenda to decarbonise road transportation through the adoption of EVs. According to Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), launched in 2022, the country is ambitious to have a 100% transition to EV by 2060, while Lagos pledged to achieve this by 2050.
The Federal Government had earlier instituted a National Action Plan for the Development of Electric Vehicles (EVDP) to accelerate the country’s transition to EVs. Apart from reducing the carbon footprint of road transportation, the plan is also expected to help reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported vehicles. It targets at least 30% of EVs in local production by 2032.
While the Nigerian government is intensely mainstreaming the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas for vehicles, little effort is being made to encourage the use of EVs and move towards achieving the country’s Energy Transition Plan.
Meanwhile, private companies have introduced Electric vehicles to the Nigerian automotive market, not only through sales but also by opening vehicle manufacturing plants in the country. Here are some electric vehicles assembled and sold in Nigeria according to their price ranges:
The Electric Motor Vehicle Company(EMVC), an indigenous Nigerian vehicle company, unveiled its electric vehicles in 2022 with two models – an electric tricycle which it tags the ‘Adoja M1’ and an electric car, the Adoja M2.
The company, founded by Prince Mustapha Audu, says it provides “environmental and sustainable mobility technology solutions by providing a full range of electric vehicles and complementary services to the electric mobility value chain market,” according to its website. It has added new EVs to its catalogue including motorcycles, tricycles, small cargo vehicles, and cars, complementing them with trackers and some with solar panels, as ad-ons. Some of the brands and specifications it sells include:
The company’s factory is along Abuja-Lokoja Express Way, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Nigeria’s first indigenous car company, established in 2007, joined the EV revolution in September 2024, when it launched its first electric cars. Days after the launch, the company’s Director of Communication, Cornel Osigwe said the first batch of electric cars assembled had all been sold out.
Osigwe told the media that some of the raw materials used in producing the vehicle were sourced locally.
According to its website, the company has three models of EVs including a 5-seater IVM Link (201-230KM Range), IVM EX02 (330-400KM Range), and the IVM EX01 (201-230KM Range). Last year, in the same month it launched, the company announced that its 5-seater IVM EX02 sold for N38.4 million. However, the current price is not publicly available.
The company has its manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, and showrooms in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.
The company has its manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, and showrooms in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.
Jet Motor Company is one of the biggest Indigenous vehicle manufacturers in Nigeria, producing a fleet of vehicles including passenger buses, pick-up vans, luxurious executive buses, utility vehicles like ambulances, and recently electric-powered buses known as Jet Ev.
In 2020, the company announced raising $9 million as research capital, from Canadian-based Africa Development Capital (ADC), Greatman Legend, and a number of Asian investors, to build Africa’s first all-electric vehicle. It pledged to build the “Tesla of Africa”.
It began the assemblage of EVs in 2021 at its manufacturing plant located along Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.
Its electric vehicles have been bought by the federal and state governments as well as ministries and armed forces. The company also enjoys the patronage of logistics companies such as GIG Logistics, one of Nigeria’s leading transport and logistics companies.
Some of the specifications of JET EVs include a MAX TOQUE (maximum rotational force) of 600 NM (higher than most SUVs.) and a high-capacity lithium iron phosphate battery.
Mr Sanjay Rupani, the Chief Operating Officer of the JET MOTOR Company told Naijaonpoint that the JET EV sells for approximately N145 million to N150 million, excluding Value Added Tax (VAT). He noted that the price is often influenced by the exchange rate.
SAGLEV INC is an American-incorporated company with distribution centres and showrooms in African countries, notably Nigeria and Ghana.
The company had been selling and marketing different brands of electric vehicles in Nigeria for years and last year it opened an assembly plant in the ta area of Ikorodu, Lagos State. Some of the brands it assembles at the Imota Plant include:
Voyah Electric Car is a brand of the Chinese Dongfeng Motor Corporation (DFM), popular in China, and has recently made an entry into the automotive market in Europe. The VOYAH brand was introduced to the Nigerian market last year by SAGLEV.
According to the SAGLEV Inc brochure, there are three models of YOYAH assembled and sold in Nigeria – VOYAH PASSION with a battery capacity of 37.5/105 Killowat-hour (KWH), and a driving range of 580 – 730 kilometers; VOYAH FREE with a driving range of 210KM-1201KM and a battery capacity of 37.5KWM; and VOYAH DREAM with a driving range of 605KM and a battery capacity of 108.7KWH.
SAGLEV, founded by Sam Faleye, says it is “focused on accelerating the conversion of Fossil Fuel Vehicles to Zero-Emission Vehicles in emerging markets by partnering with rideshare and fleet operators.”
When Naijaonpoint contacted the company for its price catalogue, it said it did not want to publicise the prices of its EVs, but noted that “they are affordable”.
Developing countries are accelerating the adoption of EVs with over 40 million in circulation globally and about 80 per cent of them in China, the U.S., and Europe.
The major challenges are inadequate power supply and charging facilities.
There are very few charging facilities publicly available in Nigeria. In addition to the charging facilities in the companies listed above, below is a list of confirmed public charging centres for EVs:
The absence of charging stations in major city centres discourages the adoption of EVs even by those who can afford them. However, the future seems promising.
The Lagos state government made provisions for the promotion of EVs in the year, in its transport policy launched last year.
The Lagos State Transport Policy proposes to discuss with the federal government to allow it to develop “networks of charging stations for electric vehicles to enable their effective use within the State.” According to the document, this is projected to be achieved within three years.