bird story agency

The charge towards e-mobility in Africa has gained new momentum, with heavy-duty electric trucks entering the market to complement two and three-wheelers that currently dominate the sector.

Last week, Morroco became the first African country to receive Africa's first heavy battery-electric truck from the Swedish car manufacturer Volvo.

The company receiving the truck is a refuse collection business,  Arma, and the electric truck will be used to collect waste. According to a statement from Volvo, the new vehicle will save approximately 30 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

The e-truck, Volvo FE Electric, is one of the six all-electric Volvo truck models manufactured by Volvo Group.

In a statement, Martin Nissan, the Managing Director of Volvo Trucks Morocco, said the launch marked Volvo e-Trucks' debut in the African market.

"Volvo is the first global brand with heavy electric trucks in commercial operation in Africa. We have the broadest electric truck line up in the industry, which makes it possible to electrify a large part of heavy transports," he said.

Volvo's global target is to have 50% of its new trucks sold by 2030 be all-electric. Considering Volvo's heavy presence in Africa, the transition will boost the electrification of this segment.

Volvo will also deliver the first heavy electric truck to South Africa beginning May 2023.

In a February 2023 statement, Volvo Trucks South Africa Managing Director, Waldemar Christensen, said that staff and dealers are trained and ready for the new technology.

The first electric truck will be delivered to KDG Logistics who will deploy it in making local deliveries in Durban.

In May 2022, the world's first hydrogen-powered haul truck made its official debut at the Mogalakwena mine in South Africa, owned by Anglo American.

The 2MW hydrogen-battery hybrid truck, generating more power than its diesel predecessor and capable of carrying a 290-tonne payload,  provides a fully integrated green hydrogen system consisting of production, fuelling and haulage system.

In a 2023 report, Fortune Business Insights projects that the global electric truck market will grow to $7146.4 million by 2029 from $631.3 million in 2022.

High fuel prices and additional refuelling solutions costs make engine combustion expensive.

"The annual cost to fuel a light commercial vehicle is $3500 annually…electric propulsion would cost $850," the authors of the report note.

However, the most significant is the carbon emissions that heavy-duty electric trucks will cut.

The transport sector is responsible for 15% of all emissions, with heavy-duty trucks responsible for more than 40% of the total.

Besides Volvo, Scania is already in the advanced stages of deploying heavy-duty electric trucks in South Africa. This is after successfully rolling out a trial delivery e-truck in collaboration with Shoprite SA.

The South African retail store in November 2022 launched this industry-first trial project for a heavy-duty electric truck for delivery. Upon completion of the trial period, Scania will launch more e-trucks on South African roads.

Even as the new segment gains momentum, the public transport segment continues to grow.

East Africa is leading the way with key private sector players expanding their infrastructural capabilities and working towards delivering more electric vehicles.

Kenyan-Swedish electric motorcycle manufacturer Roam recently launched a new 10000 square-meter facility, the Roam Park, that could produce over 50,000 units annually.

The expansion guarantees an increase in electric motorcycle quantity in East Africa.

Basigo, another private EV company, unveiled 15 new electric buses in Nairobi in January. The company seeks to sustain the momentum by assembling 1000 electric buses in collaboration with Associated Vehicle Assemblers Ltd.

These new 33-seater buses are expected to be availed in 3 years and will replace the production of 25-seaters.

Infrastructural upgrades are also availing a facilitative environment to accommodate EVs. In South Africa, for instance, Audi Africa has collaborated with Rubicon to activate 43 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide. These will accommodate 57 EVs simultaneously, adding to 70 EV charging points earlier unveiled by the company.

The International Energy Agency projects that 16% of emissions from trucks and buses must be cut by 2030 before maintaining a steady decline if Net Zero Scenario milestones are to be met.

bird story agency