Caetano Kenya, the official Hyundai car dealer in the country, has announced the arrival of the first new electric vehicle to be commercialized in Kenya – Hyundai KONA Electric. This new addition of the first EV to their range that runs over 400KM on a single charge is set to meet the ever-growing need for petrol and diesel alternatives.
This launch can be considered timely following the recent hike in fuel prices after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) scrapped fuel subsidies. This resulted in an increase in the price of petrol by about 6% costing 134.72 ($1.23) shillings per litre. Fuel prices in Kenya could further rise if an adjustment on excise duty rate on petroleum products by Kenya Revenue Authority effective in October.
“This launch goes along with the Kenyan government plans to have at least 5% of all registered vehicles being electric by 2025 in a bid to curb environmental pollution from petroleum fuels,” said, Jorge Costa, Group COO at Salvador Caetano Africa.
” As a company, we are excited to be at the forefront of driving the change of green mobility. We all have a role to play in taking care of our future and our children’s future and EV is just a beginning, ” he added.
The new KONA Electric is a car of no compromises. It embodies the two fastest-growing automotive trends – electrification and SUV style carrying the same expressive design and go-anywhere attitude of the regular KONA. The fully electric version reflects the individual lifestyle of modern customers who benefit from great fun-to-drive and the low environmental impact of a fully electric car.
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“The future of transportation is electric as more people across the globe are opting for electric vehicles.” said Rob De Jong, Head of Air Quality and Mobility Unit at The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) during the unveiling of the Hyundai KONA EV.
“I am excited to see Kenya join the EV revolution and set the ball rolling for Africa’s shift to zero-emission mobility. For the last 5 years, I have comfortably driven an electric car in the country,” he added.
According to Allied Market Research, The Global electric market is expected to reach $802B by 2027 registering a CAGR of 22.6%. Electric cars reduce air pollution considerably. In over a year, just one electric car on the roads can save an average of 1.5 million grams of Carbon dioxide (CO2). Put simply, electric cars give us cleaner streets making our towns and cities a better place to be for pedestrians and cyclists.
The demand for electric cars is projected to grow as the vehicles become more affordable and charging stations become widely available. Already, Kenya Power announced plans to build a nationwide network of public charging stations on highways, parking lots and malls, which will help in eradicating one of the biggest hurdles in electric car adoption in the country. The maintenance of an electric car is also considered to be 80% cheaper to service than a regular internal combustion engine car.
The new KONA Electric has undergone bold exterior design updates, making it even more outstanding. The front with the new-look closed grille features a pure and clean design. This modern look is further enhanced by the new LED Daytime Running Lights, which emphasize the cars wide stance. The front is complemented by an asymmetric charging port, a feature unique to the KONA Electric which makes a strong statement about driving electric. This car embodies a powerful road presence and driving fun that is true to the Hyundai brand. Plus, the KONA EV offers a 5 year/100,000 Km warranty and an 8 year/160,000 KM Warranty on the battery making EV a very cost-effective solution
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