Nigeria, potential Electric Vehicle hub in West Africa- Manufacturer
By Kayode Adebiyi
The Managing Director of BYD Motors Nigeria, Mr Moses Ayom, says Nigeria can become the electric vehicle manufacturing and marketing hub in West Africa through collaboration.
Ayom said this at an exhibition and demonstration forum for BYD Electric Cars at the Tukur Buratai Research Centre, Gora, Nasarawa State.
“BYD means Build Your Dream and what we want to do as an electric vehicle company is to help ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians follow the trend obtainable elsewhere.
“We entered into collaboration with the Chinese EV company because 85 per cent of cars in China are now EVs, with a target to completely go electric by 2030.
“Therefore, we are optimistic that Nigeria will soon lead the electric vehicle market in West Africa,” he said.
BYD’s Technical Head, Mr Rhak Argo, said the two EV models exhibited at the event have the capacity to cover 510km and 610km on one full charge with a home charging kit.
“The vehicles come with home charging kits which complete full charging within eight hours.
“If a user is on Band A, it will cost roughly N14,000 for a full charge which they could use for one week,” he said.
According to Argo, the parent Chinese BYD company is planning to set up an EV assembly plant in Nigeria once the brand becomes popular.
The Special Guest of Honour at the event, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, commended BYD Motors for the choice of the research centre for the exhibition.
Represented by Sen. Tijjani Kaura, Yari urged individuals and corporate bodies to key into investment in electric vehicle manufacturing.
The Chairman of the research centre, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said cost remained the biggest challenge to Nigerians switching to electric vehicles.
“BYD is eager to enter into the Nigerian market to make a difference.
” Economic realities mean that people are reviewing and making adjustments to their spending.
“We have also become conscious of the environment and how to source alternative ways to power our vehicles and homes, ” he said.
According to him, the centre values research and development and this informed the decision to collaborate with BYD Motors on how electric vehicles could become affordable.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the company also exhibited Ketti District, a property development project referred to as “Africa’s First Net-Zero Green City.”
There was also exhibition of furniture items produced in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority.(NAN)
(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)
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