In the ongoing Africa Climate Summit taking place at the KICC, President William Ruto has adopted a trend of arriving in an all-electric vehicle.
This spectacle garnered the attention of Kenyans, as the president chose to forgo his costly, fuel-guzzling SUVs in the motorcade in favour of a vibrant yellow minicar.
Today is the 3rd day he has been spotted driving the same electric vehicle to the summit. In consistently driving this vehicle, Ruto conveys a message about his dedication to fostering a more environmentally sustainable future for Africa.
The summit, attended by over 30,000 leaders and investors from around the world, including 25 Heads of State, focuses on exploring strategies aimed at facilitating Africa’s shift towards green energy.
Autopax Air EV Yetu
Did you know that the yellow three-door mini hatchback has been praised as Kenya’s first Electric Vehicle by a local company?
The Air Yetu vehicle was manufactured by Kenyan EV assembler Autopax, in collaboration with Chinese automobile company SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW).
It comes in two trim levels. There is a standard package option for the minicar with a 17.3 kWh prismatic cell battery, that covers over 200 kilometres on a full charge.
The other is a long-range package, with a 26.7 kWh battery, that can go up to 300 kilometres on full charge. They take 8.5 hours and 4 hours respectively to gain full charge.
Potential buyers of this electric vehicle will be presented with a choice of two colour options: the ‘Lemon Yellow’ that Ruto has been seen driving and an alternative ‘Avocado Green.’
The standard Autopax Air EV Yetu trim comes with a 42 HP electric motor, a turning radius of 4.2 metres and over 55 i-Smart Tech features.
Additionally, it has a wheelbase of 2010 mm, McPherson strut front suspension, multi-link coil rear suspension and electric power steering. It also comes with front disc and rear drum brakes.
Both trim levels have a four-seat capacity, a rear parking sensor and camera, radio, USB connectivity, Bluetooth and two airbags.
The long-range Autopax Air EV Yetu, in addition to the standard’s features, also comes installed with a satellite navigation system.
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The vehicle comes equipped with a synthetic interior, as well as features like remote door lock & window control, along with geofencing alarms.
Autopax was founded by Kenyan businessman Dr. Isaac Kalua Green. Their commitment remains to increase the number of renewable energy cars in the local market, in a bid to reduce fossil fuels consumption.
They stated that their EVs do not require much maintenance and servicing, owing to the fewer moving parts in the electric motors.
“If you drive an Autopax EV, you will spend 40% of what you would spend on petrol. In other words, if you would have spent Sh. 100 on fuel, you would now spend a maximum of Sh. 40,” the company wrote on its website.
Furthermore, vehicles that lack combustion engines guarantee owners a quiet and smooth ride.
“This feature enhances the driving experience and reduces noise pollution, contributing to a more peaceful and enjoyable environment for passengers and pedestrians alike,” Autopax wrote.
The car which is set to flood the Kenyan market soon, will be expected to have a starting price of between Sh. 1.7 million and Sh. 2 million, as per Autopax.