By Semafor Africa
Photos: Semafor AfricaInnosonWikimedia Commons
Nigerian vehicle manufacturer Innoson has rolled out four electric vehicle models, marking the first release of electric cars by a local brand in the country.
Innoson has made gasoline vehicles and trucks until now, serving a Nigerian market with patronage specifically from companies and state governments. With factories located in the southeastern state of Anambra, the company has now added EVs to its fleet while also building up capacity for cars that run on compressed natural gas.
The four EV models offer different ranges, the top one traveling for up to 400 kilometers after a full charge, the company says on its website. The cars’ batteries come with an 11-year warranty, according to a test-drive video on the company’s X account.
Some of the initial reception in Nigeria to Innoson’s announcement last week has focused on the 38 million naira ($24,000) price tag for one car. But it has also highlighted the prospect of Nigeria becoming a market for electric vehicles.
The rising cost of petrol, after the removal of decades-old subsidies that made it relatively cheap, has spurred interest in alternative fuels for vehicles in the country. And the infrastructure needed to increase EV use could be on the way. Possible EVS, a company in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, said it is making progress on its plans of rolling out charging stations in Nigeria, a necessity for those who would want to own and use electric vehicles.
