Chyulu Hills National Park has adopted four electric motor vehicles to curb pollution.
The vehicles, which will be used for patrols and critical wildlife and habitat protection, were deployed through a collaboration between the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust and Rivian.
Rivian designs, develops, and manufactures category-defining electric vehicles and accessories and sells them directly to customers.
The pilot project, beginning with four R1T electric adventure vehicles in Chyulu Hills, is enabling MWCT to conserve the environment.
The advantages include quiet anti-poaching patrols, zero tailpipe-emissions transport for Maasai firefighters and critical on-and off-road rangers’ operations to health and education programmes.
In the coming months, Rivian’s new electric SUVs, the R1S, as well as Rivian charging infrastructure will be added to MWCT’s operations.
The founder and executive director of Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust Luca Belpietro said they were excited by the collaboration with Rivian.
“Rivian’s support of MWCT is playing a significant role here in Kenya, helping us to carry out our work in conservation, education, health, and livelihood initiatives,” Belpietro said.
“The R1T is the perfect vehicle for us, with zero tailpipe emissions and essential features such as electric sockets in the vehicle so we’re able to plug our equipment directly into the vehicles without the need for an external power source.”
Rivian chief sustainability officer Anisa Costa said the company believes individuals, organisations and entire industries must come together to preserve the natural world for future generations. “For Rivian, this partnership with the Maasai people is about extending our collective impact, taking extraordinary steps, even before selling a single vehicle outside the United States, to explore the unique opportunities for community-based social and environmental change our trucks and SUVs can help make possible,” Costa said.
“We feel honoured to be able to put our new tools and resources to work in the protection of some of Africa’s most iconic and important land, wildlife and culture.”
Last year, outgoing Tourism CS Najib Balala announced plans to restrict the use of vehicle transportation in national parks and reserves as the country prepares to achieve sustainable tourism.
Balala said all hospitality and tourism facilities will have to adopt renewable energy and circular economy in their operations by 2030.