ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Government is exploring the possibility of investing in electric vehicles (EVs) as a strategic move to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on its citizens. The State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, stated this during an inspection and test-drive event held at the Government House in Asaba, as he expressed keen interest in the potential of electric vehicles for mass transportation.
“This is the first time I have the opportunity to drive electric vehicles, and you can see that it’s smooth, noiseless, and comfortable. With the way the price of fuel is going up, electric vehicles are better at this time because everybody is trying to move away from fuel to save cost,” Governor Oborevwori stated.
Highlighting the economic advantages of electric vehicles, he added, “The Electric vehicles (E.V) are cheaper; the only thing is that we are still studying this model, and we are coming out with our own decision very shortly, to know whether to go in that direction, especially with the present hike in petrol price.”
To further investigate the viability of EVs in Nigeria, the State Governor announced the formation of a Committee to be headed by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu.
Chidi Ajaere, Chairman of Jet Motors, also weighed in on the benefits of investing in electric vehicles, emphasizing their eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness.
He stated, “The Federal Government is already taking the initiative of investing in electric vehicles. We have an abundance of sun in Nigeria, so the idea for the Federal Government and the Delta State government is looking into building solar-powered charging infrastructure.”
Expanding on the financial advantages, Ajaere noted, “The two biggest cost drivers for transportation are the cost of maintenance and the cost of fueling, but with electric vehicles, you eliminate the cost of maintenance and the cost of petrol, thereby reducing the cost of transportation by almost 80 percent.”
According to Ajaere, the battery life of these vehicles ranges from eight to ten years, and larger vehicles can cover distances of up to 300km on a full charge.
Governor Oborevwori sees electric vehicles as a viable solution to support transporters and reduce the overall cost of transportation in the state. With an increasing interest in electric vehicles across the nation, the prospect of solar-powered charging stations along major routes is being explored to address long-distance travel.
As discussions continue, the potential shift towards electric vehicles in Delta State signals a forward-thinking approach to transportation, taking into account both environmental and economic considerations.
