The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has called for applications from Kenyans seeking permits to set up electric vehicle charging and battery swapping stations.
The licenses will be issued to people who meet the requirements of the guidelines that were released on Friday as the government steps up clean energy efforts.
The EV Charging and Battery Swapping Infrastructure Guidelines, 2023, seek to boost e-mobility adoption in the country.
Only certified charging equipment will be approved by the regulator.
“Any person intending to install a public or private charging station or a battery swapping station at a place of their choice can now apply for a licence from Epra with all charging equipment expected to be those certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards,” Epra said in a statement.
President William Rutos' administration is seeking to reduce carbon dioxide emissions' impact on the environment by pushing for clean vehicles.
Already, the country is on a steady transition to clean vehicles as well as two- and three-wheelers.
Epra says that the transport sector directly accounts for about 13 per cent of the total emissions and is growing.
“These guidelines add to the milestones that have already been achieved by the government in the e-mobility agenda,” Epra director general Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria said at the launch of the guidelines.
“Overall, they ensure that charging infrastructure is accessible to all including persons with disability, are affordable, that they are placed along major highways for long-distance travellers and that there are guidelines for home charging ports among others.”
The Epra says the guidelines will also provide an adoption framework aimed at contributing positively to investments in e-mobility and instilling confidence in its uptake.
Road and Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen has promised modification of existing road infrastructure to encourage e-Mobility.
Murkomen said this during a meeting at the Ministerial Session on Investing in Green Transportation at the Africa Climate Summit at KICC on Monday.
“Records show that 41 per cent of Nairobi residents use public transport every day, 40 per cent walk to their destinations, while 13 per cent use private or personal cars,” Murkomen said.
Electromobility (or e-Mobility) is a concept that uses electric cars, as well as e-bikes or pedelecs, electric motorbikes, e-buses and e-trucks.