The use of electric vehicles (EV) has been explained by Jet Systems Automobile to serve as an option for mass mobility which is determined to promote the country’s transformation to sustainable mobility after the removal of petrol subsidy. During the visitation of the chief operating officer of Jet Systems Automobile Industry Ltd, Oluwemimo Osanipin, and its team with the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, recently, Osanipin stated that for mass mobility, EVs should be the best choice which is in contrast to vehicles using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
He said that EVs release zero-emission and have minimum maintenance cost and promote a cleaner environment, unlike fuel engines that pollute the ecosystem through the release of gases; CNG engines and fuel combustion are also very expensive to maintain. He added that stations that run on solar power can be used to charge EVs which are numerous in Africa, precisely Nigeria, and the engines do not make disturbing noise in comparison to others. And at home, smaller EVs can be charged to reduce the cost of the users.
Solar-powered charging stations will be built strategically.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori while test driving the EVs, applauded the company for their promises and innovations that would be considered through the viability of making available Jet EVs for public transportation. He said that the plan on how to initiate solar-powered charging stations will be discussed in conformity with strategic highways in the state to help the charging of the EVs when released. Oborevwori added that the secretary to the State Government, Kingsley Emu, will lead a team to investigate the possibility of helping the transporters within the state government to acquire EVs in the state.
Taken from Oborevwori’s statement, individuals are trying to save costs by moving away from fuel, which gives advantage to EVs which are a lot cheaper. However, there are underground evaluations and studies of this model, and the organisation is planning to come up with a decision. The chairman of Jet Systems, Chidi Ajaere, in his statement, said that mobility companies that are future-thinking are putting their Investment in electric vehicles due to the Inflation of fuel prices which has increased the cost of transportation.
Delta State & FG to build solar-powered charging infrastructure.
Ajaere said that there is an investment initiative in EVs taken up already by the Federal Government. He added that the Delta State Government and the Federal Government are working into developing solar-powered charging Infrastructure because of the abundance and plentiful sun available in Nigeria. He highlighted the features of EV batteries, stating that the battery life span is between 8 to 10 years, and the bigger vehicles, Jet Mover, on a full charge can run for 300km. This is like a movement from Asaba to Warri and Lagos to Ibadan to and from.
Additionally, Ajaere urged the Federal Government to construct solar charging stations along the way that vehicles ply when traveling a far distance. This is to enable the continuity of the journey while driving. During rainy season, the batteries will enable the solar charging infrastructures to store power to charge these vehicles. More so, the CNG-powered lines can also be attached to those stations to provide charging medium for vehicles in the rainy season. EV is an electric motor that does not have gasoline tank, but uses a battery.
These EVs can be charged at any convenient place.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are a combination of electric vehicles and gasoline, making them to function with an internal combustion engine, gasoline tank, electric motor and battery. EVs do not emit tailpipe, but there is production of tailpipe Emissions when gasoline is used in place of battery as a fuel source by PHEVs. A standard 120 V outlet can charge EVs, but the installation of 240 V charging system will make EVs charge faster. These EVs can be charged at any convenient place such as public charging stations, workplace or home. Also, there is wide difference in driving the range capabilites. The distance EVs will cover before recharging is quite less to the miles gasoline can cover before it is refueled.
