Electric Vehicles became really important and popular after the Paris Agreement of 2015 in which countries signed to work together to bring global carbon emissions to 2 degrees Fahrenheit. In 2030, there will be 200 Million Electric Vehicles.
The EV sector interests me because it supersedes just the transport sector but also connects the Power / Electricity sector and the environment sector. There are two main challenges that will face the rise and deployment.
- Charging Infrastructure availability
- Intergrating charging infrastructure into the power grid
According to the IEA, by 2030, there will be 30% new 2 wheeler EVs (Bikes / motorcycles). And so this there is need for the massive development of charging infrastructure to power up these vehicles.
But this cannot be so without regulation and policy on the part of the government for Electric Vehicles Charging. The government has a role to play to set the pace and enabling environment for the deployment of electric vehicles to curb carbon emissions, decrease air pollution, promote clean transportation.
Without any form of policy or regulation, the EV sector cannot effectively be deployed. Policy and regulation set in place by the government defines strategies that will guide the deployment of EV solutions and can encourage private players in both the automobile, transport and power sector players create electric cars and charging infrastructure to meet the charging requirement.
Nigeria is a very important market where EVs can thrive. As a country, Nigeria can take the lead for Electric Vehicles in Africa. But the market has not kickstarted because of lack of policy and regulation.
Electric vehicles are the future of transport and will play a big role for the power sector in form of the creation of charging infrastructure and the Vehicle to Everything concept (V2X) where an EV can safely send power to a home or back to the grid. The interesting thing about #EVs is that it connects two important sectors – The Power / Electricity sector and the Transport sector linking together all players in both spheres from the government aspect, private sector companies and the market. Personally, I am interested and really excited about what the future of energy and transport holds for #Africa especially #Nigeria and I am working to lend my voice to champion action to enable Nigeria’s sustainable participation.
But how exactly can the government create a suitable and holistic policy and regulation which will create the enabling environment for electric vehicles including for automobiles, for the charging infrastructure?
For the government to do this, there are several aspects of the Electric Vehicle Ecosystem and value chain that must be taken into consideration.
I will be sharing about this in my next post.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Glory’s life goal is to be a positive part of people’s lives and make good impact. She’s passionate about economic development of Nigeria and work in the field of renewable energy and environmental sustainability to promote Nigeria’s economic growth through job creation and education. She is the founder of Climate Smart Nigeria which promotes Climate Change Education in Nigerian institutions and provide capacity building on renewable energy technologies. Recently she established the Renewable Energy Technology Training Institute (RETTI) where she is also the Chief Instructor. The institute grooms the next generation of efficient installers and entrepreneurs with a focus on women who will serve as a competent workforce for the renewable energy industry and provide solutions to Nigeria’s prevalent energy problems as entrepreneurs.
Under Glory’s leadership, RETTI recently lauched eight short ONLINE COURSES to assist people wanting to get into the energy sector especially renewables.
Glory recently received the Florence School of Regulation’s – Lights on #Women #Award as one of four women out of 150 women from 64 countries. This award will granted her a featured interview with the FSR and a scholarship to study the course – #Electric #Vehicles (EV), a Power Sector Perspective and expand her knowledge about how EVs, #Charging #Infrastructure and the #V2X (Vehicle to Everything) concept will change the face of electricity and transportation.
Glory has published four books to promote the knowledge of climate change and renewable energy; Something is happening; Our world is changing; Understanding the Basics of Climate Change– for Secondary Schools – The Concept and Science of Climate Change – for the general adult public, A short thriller story – The Year Ran Mad – which depicts the impact of climate change on livelihood for Primary schools and The Girl who saw tomorrow, a short novel for secondary school – amzn.to/2TEYB1u.
Glory can consult for African government entities about regulation for Electric Vehicles.
MORE ABOUT GLORY
She is the recipient of several local and international awards and recognitions which include (a) Nigerian Star from the US Mission in Nigeria (2018), (b) The Nigerian Energy Champion Prize from the Nigerian Energy Awards (2015), (c) President Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship Award (2015), (d) The Young Energy Professional of the Year Award by Nigeria Energy Awards (2018), (e) A Foremost Woman in Renewable Energy award recipient (2017); (f) Environmental Award of Excellence, Environmental Community Development group (2014) In April 2019, Glory was selected
as one of 15 African female business leaders to attend United States Government’s launch of the OPIC 2X
Africa and meet with advisor to President of USA – Ms. Ivanka Trump and the Ethiopian President – Ms Sahle-Work Zewde.
In the course of her work she has met and shared platforms with a number high profile personalities and leaders at the national and international levels, including President Barack Obama, US Senator Chris Coons, Advisor to President Trump, Ms Ivanka Trump, Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware USA, Ethiopian President – Ms Sahle-Work Zewde, The USG Undersecretary for Energy – Mr Mark Menezes and former Vice President Ebitu Ukiwe of Nigeria.
She is a consultant for Nigeria’s largest renewable energy event, the Nigerian Alternative Energy Expo. She was a former Vice President of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN), and is currently an active member. She’s an alumna of Abia State University, Nigeria, The Lagos Business School, University of Delaware, USA, European Energy Institute and The Florence School of Regulation, Italy.
This is very insightful journal from a woman who’s passionate about the environment and development of her country,it’s citizens,and the global world .
Thank you for reading the post and for your kind words.
The Nigeria government is actually fighting against it selfishly because they see it as a treat to oil economy, but that is wrong , instead it is going to boost the economy and create many jobs, and save our environment.
I assembled the first solar tricycle in Nigeria in 2015 and it was officially unveiled by the then Hon. Minister for environment Amina J Muhammed now the Deputy Secretary UN. along side with other Ministers.
The event took place on August 2016 during the 10th National Council on Environment.
On the 12th of April 2018, His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osibanjo accompanied by the Executive Governor of Anambra State Chief Dr Willie Obiano and the Hon. Minister for Employment Dr. Chris Ngige, inspected the solar tricycle during MSMEs clinic held at Onitsha Anambra State.
Hon. Minister of Science and Technology. Hon. Ogbonnaya Onu accompanied by The Permanent Secretary , Mr. Bitrus Nabusa inspected the Solar Powered Tricycle At the TechnoExpo2019 in Enugu.
My vision is to build an assembly plant here in Nigeria where solar vehicles will be assembled, and we have plan to establish charging and battery swapping stations across the country, but there’s no encouragement, patronage or enabling environment from the Government.
Am really happy to come across this article, because I know that very soon it will be a reality.
Thank you Grory, keep it up,
you’re not alone in this battle, we are solidly behind you.
I was talking to someone else recently about this and they mentioned what you said about the threat on oil economy.
I agree that the deployment of EVs will indeed promote not just a safer environment but the entire value chain of EVs can create massive employment and boost solar electrification. Some people have said that current Nigerian electricity infrastructure cannot support EV charging. But solar which we have in massive be abundance can power the charging stations and in no time Nigeria can begin exploring the V2X concept (Vehicle to Everything – Vehicle to Home and Vehicle to Grid). It’s time for the government to create the enabling environment for Electric Vehicles.
The electrification if the power sector can actually support the development of the electricity sector itself.
Thank you for your Insightful comment on this post and congratulations on your inventions, achievement and goals. You response has given me hope for the establishment of the EV sector in Nigeria.
Good work Glory. Very insightful and clear. Indeed you are not alone in this issue. Thank God we are discovering the presence of lithium and other major minerals for EV production in some states. If properly harnessed, the cost of EV production would become a thing of the past as we would produce the major components and export them thus improving our economy.