Most of the world agrees on the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions. To the extent that the international community against climate change reached an agreement, Netzero, that would practically foster a cleaner environment.
What is Netzero?
According to Netzero, to reduce global warming, a balance must be achieved between the number of emissions produced and those removed from the atmosphere.
Conforming to the Netzero accord, net worldwide emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) created by human activity must have fallen by roughly 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching net zero around 2050.
However, in the race to implement structures and assets that can help in this regard, some regions are way ahead of others, particularly in mobility.
Nearly all (95%) of the world’s transportation energy is derived from petroleum-based fuels, primarily gasoline and diesel. The state of transportation in the grand scheme of global emissions has necessitated the need to take practical steps toward changing systems and behaviours that help reduce emissions.
Thankfully, transport emissions are being addressed with innovative solutions that can help make sure most vehicles on the road are safe for the environment. Some of these include vehicle sharing and the adoption of electric vehicles.
The main goal is to have fewer vehicles on the road and make the ones that are, emission-free.
In this piece, we will look at the effect 2 and 3-wheelers have on the mobility sector and the good that can come from switching to electric vehicles, in the context of African mobility.
Electric 2 and 3-wheelers have the potential to drive African economies, mainly because the technology to electrify them already exists within the region.
For reference, research has shown that pollution from two and three-wheelers in Africa is expected to reach 1.7 gigatonnes of CO2 per year by 2030, similar to the yearly emissions from 2 million Boeing 737s.
Fortunately, switching vehicles to electric-powered machinery helps drop these emissions significantly. This has already been proven in other parts of the world. 2 and 3-wheelers represent 90% of electric vehicles across the globe.
For example, in Vietnam, many businesses have already taken to using electric 2-wheelers to fulfil deliveries. Most of these businesses have little to no complaints about reduced fuel costs and low maintenance, which drives their affinity for these vehicles. This potentially US$ 153.62 industry is set to cater for a wider audience globally
Putting 2 and 3-wheelers to work in Africa
Several organisations have made strides in electric 2 and 3-wheeler production. The number of high-tech options available in the region certainly paints a great picture of the future of African mobility. This bodes well for the region, economically as well.
Considering the long-term cost, experts say there is a compelling commercial rationale for the shift to electric two- and three-wheelers.
When the total cost of ownership, including buying, using, and operating these vehicles, is evaluated, one can see that the potential for electric 2 and 3-wheelers to offer equivalent or greater long-term value than ICE 2 and 3-wheelers is indeed viable.
Right now, efforts need to be made to make charging infrastructure available to EV users. In the long term, however, with mass adoption and further collaboration from various entities, 2 and 3-wheelers will become a more cost-efficient way to run a business within Africa. MAX has made this a point of action by seeking to establish electric vehicle ecosystems in more countries across the continent.
