Come December 2023, an electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant will debut in Lagos to commence operations and assemblage of EVs in the country.
This is coming from the stables of an American EV manufacturer, SAGLEV, who assured Nigerians that EVs are affordable, devoid of needless maintenance and do not require frequent charging.
This differs from widespread misconceptions about the affordability of the vehicle, charging challenges, and other sundry myths surrounding the feasibility of using e-mobility in Nigeria.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, SAGLEV, Dr Sam Faleye, disclosed this at a media launch to showcase the advantages of EVs in Lagos.
Faleye said that EVs have come to stay while urging Nigerians to hop on the moving train or be left behind.
According to him, some of the major misconceptions about EVs have to do with their affordability and the need for frequent charging are unfounded while disclosing that in comparison to Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) EVs are quite affordable, and need less maintenance.
“In the area of affordability, it will shock you to note that one of our brand-new EVs on display goes for around N18-N20m, and if you compare it with a brand-new Toyota Camry that goes for about N40m, you will agree with me that the EV is shockingly cheap,” he disclosed.
He disclosed that with the rising costs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol, it has even become cheaper and more cost-effective to embrace electric vehicles.
Addressing the issues of charging which has been identified as another major source of worry for EV users, Faleye disclosed that an EV does not need frequent charging.
“In the area of charging, a fully charged car can travel for as long as 300 kilometers on a full charge, this is equal to driving from Oshodi to Ajah 10 times. So, you do not need to charge your car every day, all you require is to charge the car about once or twice per week.
“It also takes about four hours with a level two charger to fully charge a car and this can be done while you sleep” he added.
On the availability of charging points, he disclosed that plans are underway to roll out charging stations at every Ardova and Enyo Petrol Station across the country where EVs can be charged.
He highlighted that with an EV, a user will spend less time in a mechanic’s workshop as it requires less maintenance.
“The cost of maintenance of an electric vehicle versus an internal combustion engine vehicle is usually about 50 per cent because the EV does not have a carburetor, crankshaft engine oil, all the things that get bought normally in a car, the electric vehicle does not have those things. It is just an electric motor and a battery; the maintenance cost is way less.
“The only things that the electric car does share in common with internal combustion cars include parts such as suspension, tire, headlights, headlamps, shock absorbers, and brake pads.
“But again, on electric vehicles, the number of times you go to service your car is much less. There is no need to check your oil” he added.
Faleye appealed to car dealers in the country to partner with SAGLEV towards delivering EVs to Nigerians.
Also speaking at the event, the Head of Commercial Development, Ardova Plc, Chimaobi Onuigbo, emphasized their support for alternative energy sources and the partnership between their company and SAGLEV to provide charging stations for electric vehicles.
He believed that having charging stations at their stations across the nation could benefit both their business and the customers.
He also mentioned their wide network of stations across Nigeria, making it convenient for electric vehicle users to find a charging station.
