The Electric Vehicle Exhibition, held in the Namibian capital of Windhoek on Monday, spotlighted climate change as the city seeks to ease traffic congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.
The one-day exhibition brought together stakeholders, including car dealers, charging solution providers, policymakers, and consumers, to discuss the future of mobility in the country. It featured brands such as Nissan, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
Queen Omagano Kamati, mayor of Windhoek, said the exhibition is part of efforts to enhance the public transportation system and adopt innovations in addressing climate change.
According to Kamati, Namibia's electric vehicle market is growing exponentially, fueled by consumer interest, government interventions, and public-private cooperation.
"It is driven mainly by Namibia's commitment to enhancing its net sink capacity of emissions by 13 percent by 2030, as set in the country's second nationally determined contribution," said Kamati.
Vision 2030, the country's blueprint, emphasizes its commitment to electric vehicles and sustainable technology.
Cedric Limbo, director of transportation policy and regulation in the Ministry of Works and Transport, noted that in addition to the Namibian government's 2018 Transport Policy, efforts are also being made to shift perceptions and promote the use of clean technology.
"As we move to diversify the economy beyond its traditional reliance on fossil fuels, it is imperative to align policies and explore more innovative approaches to ensure our transport system is on par with global efforts to promote environmental protection," he said.
Meanwhile, local startups are emerging in the electric vehicles sector. Afuture is one of the key local players specializing in tricycles. Its co-founder Nicolo Benade said he orders the parts from China and assembles them at his workshop in Windhoek, mainly for distribution countrywide.
He recorded increasing interest from farmers in Namibia in the tricycles. "One only spends five Namibian dollars (about 28 U.S. cents) on electricity and drives 100 kilometers," he said.
Conrad Roeddern, representative of Electric Vehicles Namibia, a local distributor of electronic vehicles, highlighted the benefits of electric vehicles.
"The cars are not necessarily cheap, but people save on fuel cost and maintenance. The long-term opportunity is reduced carbon emissions. Environmental protection is the unique selling point," he said.
The market is not limited to electric cars and tricycles. Electric bikes are also addressing mobility and carbon emission challenges.
Isreal Ugburo, mechanical design lead at E-Bikes4Africa, a manufacturer of electric bikes in Windhoek, said the bikes enable mobility, especially for people looking to venture into the delivery industry.
"It cuts the cost of fuel, promotes clean energy, and, in the long run, increases the quality of life for the inhabitants in terms of income generation and health," he said.
