Thursday 4 June 2020

African ride-hail company launches electric taxi network

Vaya Africa, an African ride-hail venture, has launched an electric taxi service and charging network in Zimbabwe.

The South-African based company has acquired a fleet of Nissan Leaf electric vehicles (EVs) and developed its own solar-powered charging stations.

The EVs are expected to save up to 40% on fuel and maintenance costs compared to vehicles run on fossil fuels.

Dorothy Zimuto, the CEO of Vaya Mobility, said: "EVs have zero emissions and our aim is to ensure that all vehicles we have on the VAYA platform in the next ten years are EVs.

"We start our journey of deploying innovative ways of harnessing clean, renewable energy to provide safe and convenient transportation services to the public on the African continent."

The programme will start in Zimbabwe this week and could expand with on-demand electric taxi and delivery services in Kenya, Nigeria South Africa and Zambia in the following weeks.