First electric commuter taxi launched, runs between 250 and 300 km on 1 full charge

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The first all-electric commuter taxi in Uganda has been launched, following a partnership between Freedom EV Electrical SMC Ltd and Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA.

The vehicle, manufactured by Dongfeng Automobile Company (DFAC) in China, runs for between 250 and 300 kilometres on one full charge for 40,000 Shillings, making it even more cost-saving than diesel and petrol-powered battery vans.

For 120 million shillings asking price, the van has a three-year or 100,000-kilometer warranty, which offers free services where needed, during the warranty period.

Ratan Tayal, the Managing Director of Freedom EV in Kampala said this is quite cheap compared to the common 14-seater minibuses that cost 80 million shillings.

Tayal said that he is aware that the Ugandan public transport industry prefers 14-seaters and larger, capacity vehicles, but explained that the 10-seat vehicle is what is preferred in their initial Chinese and Nepalese markets.

He assured that soon, the 14-seater and 28-seater buses will be in the country and the seats will also be adjusted to suit the physique of the Ugandan passenger.

Tayal appealed to the government to enhance its partnership with the private sector dealers in electric vehicles, to make them more accessible to Ugandans as they are currently a little expensive for an ordinary person to buy.

“If the government can subsidise the coat of electricity and also make the acquisition of electric vehicles easier because this would make the road to energy transition easier,” Tayal said.

Freedom Electrical SMC Marketing Manager, Jafari Abuyi said the vehicles are relatively cheaper than would be without the support of the government for renewable energy-related innovations.

He clarified, for example, that the government has waived import duty on all-electric vehicles.

The taxis will initially be based at the Bwaise KALOCEN Terminal (Bwaise Taxi Park), where Freedom EV Electrical SMC Ltd is also housed, and ply the Entebbe Expressway.

On why they accepted the partnership for the EV taxis, Col Frederick Makanga Bogere, Managing Director of KALOCEN Investments said the main aim is to take the lead in the protection of the environment as well as energy transition in the passenger transport industry.

Col Bogere said sooner or later, everyone will have to acquire an electric car because it is the way to go, in line with the global movement of going green.

“We are so used to the liquid fuels that it will take time for Ugandans to embrace the greed mobility, so this calls for government sensitisation of the public on this transitional development,” he said.

Serugunda Sam, a taxi operator at the Bweyogerere stage, Bwaise Park feels that the cost of the electric minibus is fair considering that they buy used Toyota buses at 80 million shillings and continue fueling and servicing them on top of the many parts that kept breaking.

He says it will also give them no reason to keep the transport fares his since the cost of maintenance is low.

“When I go to Luwero, I use 120,000 shillings on fuel, but with the electric car, I will only 20,000 shillings to charge the battery. So why can’t I charge the passenger 3,000 shillings?” he said.

On the cost, the company is partnering with banks to enable a buyer to acquire a unit by paying in instalments, by initially depositing as low as 25 million shillings.

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