The Electric Mobility Promoters Association of Nigeria (EMPAN) says electric vehicles will reduce operational cost by 40 per cent.
The president of EMPAN, Dapo Adesina, said this on Saturday in Lagos, during the EMPAN certificate presentation ceremony for the free training for roadside mechanics on electric okadas and kekes.
Adesina said that the association would continue to promote efforts toward transitioning to electric mobility in the country.
He said that it was part of the reasons the association with its partners organised the training for mechanics, toward the repair and maintenance of Electric Vehicles (EV).
According to him, electric vehicles are the future, and the future is now, as there are numerous advantages of EV.
‘Electric vehicles are eco-friendly, so we are able to meet our nationally determined contribution as a country and as part of an energy transition plan of the Federal Government, so we have 25 per cent out of the five major sectors.
‘Transport is accounting for about 25 per cent where we can decarbonise the environment, and also reduce pollution.
‘There is zero tailpipe emission from EVs, low or no noise at all, noise pollution is canceled, so we can live better than ever.
‘The operational cost of running an EV is very cheap. You can save as much as between 40 to 60 per cent of your daily or weekly or monthly operational costs, when you use EV as against the internal combustion engines’, he said.
Adesina said that the association would monitor and evaluate the participants for job placement, as may be required.
‘Today, we celebrate not just the conclusion of a training programme, but the beginning of a new chapter for sustainable transport in Nigeria.
‘This initiative reflects the vision of the Electric Mobility Promoters Association of Nigeria (EMPAN) to empower our local workforce, strengthen the electric mobility ecosystem, and ensure that as Nigeria transitions to clean and affordable transport, no one is left behind.
‘To our newly trained mechanics, I congratulate you for your commitment and dedication throughout these six days. You are the pioneers – the first responders and champions of this technology on our streets and in our communities.
‘The knowledge and skills you have gained will not only enhance your livelihoods but also inspire confidence among everyday Nigerians to adopt and embrace electric mobility’, he said.
The president said that EMPAN believed that true progress was made when capacity was built at the grassroots.
‘That is why this training is free – to open doors of opportunity, to democratise knowledge, and to create a network of skilled technicians who will sustain the future of transport in our country.
‘As we present your certificates today, remember that this is only the beginning. The road ahead is full of possibilities, and together, we will continue to innovate, collaborate, and scale solutions that benefit both people and the planet’, he said.
The head of infrastructure of Zoome, Sola Adedeji, said the scale of electric vehicles was ramping up, as there were over 1,500 bikes within a year.
‘It is clear, anything that saves money, it will save over 40 per cent expenditure. When it comes to upfront cost as well, basically rivalry in the same Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, basically the same price.
‘Overall, I think for technology, it is just way better. The whole world is transitioning from fossil fuels now, so I think basically it is just better than what we had before’, Mr Adedeji said.
One of the trainers, Samuel Owoeye, thanked EMPAN and its partners for the training, which would make electric vehicle maintenance easier, with a focus on testing, isolating, and fixing parts.
Owoeye advised Nigerians to shift to electric vehicles due to their numerous benefits reducing emissions and noise, making them environmentally friendly.
