Africa - How JET Motors is ushering electric vehicle market into a new era of mobility
How JET Motors is ushering Africa's electric vehicle market into a new era of mobility
Africa's race for the electric vehicle (EV) market has already begun. Despite numerous impediments, such as inadequate power generation and infrastructure on the continent, some players have chosen to be industry pioneers.
ARC Ride's electric two- and three-wheelers have begun to penetrate the Kenyan market. Similarly, Rwandan start-up Ampersand and Uganda's Kiira Motors are making inroads with their electric bikes and locally manufactured electric buses.
Now, a formidable rival from Nigeria, JET Motor Company, has entered the fray with the launch of Africa's first fully electric van, the JET EV.
JET's journey
JET Motors Company, founded in 2018 by Chidi Ajaere and a team of passionate professionals, aims to accelerate Africa's dominance in the future of mobility by reshaping the mobility narrative.
According to recent reports, Africa accounts for approximately 40% of global exports of used vehicles. Around 80–90 percent of total vehicles imported into Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia are estimated to be imported.
JET launched its flagship brand, the JET MOVER, in 2019, a multipurpose van designed to accelerate the adoption of locally manufactured vehicles.
Mr Joseph explains that JET chose to begin with vans because a greater percentage of the population in Nigeria and Africa in general rely on commercial vehicles. As such, the JET Mover was designed to aid in the efficient movement of people using this mode of transportation.
This is not, however, the primary objective of the business. It established a lofty mission of guiding Africa into a new era of mobility. This, Mr Chidi believes, entails guiding Africa into the new world of electric vehicles.
“The world is transitioning from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, and the world is already discussing self-driving cars. Nobody has or is truly discussing that narrative in Africa.”
Mr Chidi continued, "We believe in a global vision for Africa, and believe that Nigeria is positioned appropriately." Africa is ideally positioned to lead the automobile narrative, particularly in the new mobility era.”
Start of a new era
JET Motors launched its latest product, the JET EV, earlier this month in order to accomplish these lofty goals. The vehicle is unique in that it is a 100 percent electric vehicle with zero emissions.
JET's Director of Strategy and Operations, Joseph Wemimo, reaffirmed Chidi's position. He stated that the company's initial goal was to manufacture electric vehicles.
“JET chose to begin with the known and progress to the unknown. The internal combustion engine was well-known at the time, which we began in 2019 with the launch of JET Mover. The unknown is the new JET EV, which we introduced earlier this month,” he explained.
When asked how JET's EV hopes to compete in the country with global brands such as Tesla, JET's founder explained that the company understands the African market better than Europeans, Americans, and even Asians.
He added that they took their time customizing vehicles for the African market and narrative.
According to Joseph, the JET EV is the best vehicle for the region because it combines European design, Asian technology, and tropicalized African use. “The vehicle represents the convergence of the best in design and technology, which is then tropicalized for African use.”
A vehicle built for the African road
A common concern for many Nigerians who have heard of electric vehicles such as Tesla is how they will survive on Nigeria's dangerous roads. Their concerns are justified, as there is a 50% chance that every 1 kilometer of road in the country contains a porthole.
According to Joseph, JET Motor has addressed this issue by developing an electric vehicle that is unconcerned about portholes, flooded roads, and massive potholes on the country's roads.
“We cannot build roads, but we can construct vehicles that are well-suited for Nigerian roads.”
According to Ebuka Uchendu, Technical Lead at JET EV, the EVs have reinforced suspensions and shock absorbers to withstand the African terrain.
For floods, the company claims to have enhanced the vehicle's corrosive nature to avoid the underbelly rust that most vehicles on the continent suffer from. It added that corrosion-resistant devices had been installed while increasing the ground clearance.
Up to 250km after single charge
Given the high volume of traffic on the roads, the JET EV features a 107.6-kilowatt-hour battery. According to the technical lead, the vehicle has a 250-kilometer range. However, he added that with proper extrapolation, it could reach 300 kilometers.
Concerning battery discharge, Mr Ebuka notes that the EV's drainage is extremely low in traffic and is completely non-existent when parked.
JET says it equipped the battery with an IP6 ingress protection rating to protect it from extreme heat and other environmental hazards. This means the batteries are secure and safe, with a decomposition temperature of approximately 600 degrees Celsius.
Additional features include high-capacity traction motors capable of accelerating vehicles from zero to 200 kilometers per hour in less than 20 seconds and superchargers capable of charging EVs in less than two hours from 0 to 100 percent charge.
Currently, the EVs are charged at the JET-built power station for its partners. Mr Chidi, on the other hand, asserts that electric vehicles can be charged from any source of energy.
Lower maintenance cost
Internal combustion engines present a slew of difficulties for Nigerian users. From the scarcity of new, high-quality replacement parts to the exorbitant operating and maintenance costs associated with a lack of technical expertise.
JET Motors' solution to these issues is the JET EV. The company claims that it reduces the number of engine components by nearly 70%, thereby lowering maintenance costs.
Similarly, operational costs decrease significantly, as concern about fluctuating fuel prices is eliminated.
“If you look at the cost of fueling a vehicle for 250 kilometers, you'll see that using an EV saves you money. For instance, based on current billing charges from electric companies, you can charge an EV to 100% capacity for N6,000, while fueling a vehicle in Nigeria for 250 kilometers costs between N10,000 and N15,000,” Ebuka explained.
Apart from their affordability, the JET EVs are environmentally friendly. Additionally, they are quieter and emit no pollutants, making them beneficial not only to the environment, but also to human health.
Leaving performance aside, Mr Joseph lauded the vehicle's design, aesthetics, and comfort, stating that "you can walk comfortably in the car without bending your head." This is a one-of-a-kind proposition for the numerous people who have been struck in the head by a vehicle's vengeful roof.”
Additionally, there is a customized entertainment system. The company claims that the device enables users to play games, watch movies, and listen to music.
The global push for EV adoption is accelerating. The G7 (Group of Seven) has already put in place mechanisms to ensure that the majority of vehicles produced by 2030 will be electric.
Mr Wemimo, on the other hand, believes that Africa is being left out of this conversation. He continued by stating that the company aspires to change that by serving as Africa's voice in the global electric space.
Going forward
JET is currently focused on selling its EVs to fleet operators – individuals who own more than two or three vehicles in the transportation, logistics, or business sectors.
According to Chidi, this is because 90% of the African population, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana, travels by road using mass transportation. “If they travel by road, how did they travel by road? Do they have their own automobiles? No. They typically travel via public transportation. Today, the most prevalent mode of transport in Africa is mass transportation.”
In the future, the JET founder revealed that his company is seeking funding but is only interested in venture capitalists or institutional investors who share his commitment to the environment and believe in his long-term vision for Africa's mobility space.
The company's most recent round of funding occurred in 2019, when it raised more than $11 million for research and development in the electric vehicle space. Mr Chidi asserts that all funding went toward developing the current vehicle catalog.
With sufficient funding, JET intends to deploy its charging stations throughout African cities and highways, easing the transition for both individuals and fleet operators. Following that, it intends to increase production.
Additionally, it intends to investigate battery swapping technology for ease of charging.
Although JET's primary focus is currently on vans, Chidi has hinted that the company has begun researching and will consider introducing passenger lines in the future, including SUVs, utility trucks, and luxury cars.
However, within the next decade, JET intends to export its vehicles to all African countries and then expand beyond the continent's borders.
In conclusion
According to industry trends, the majority of major vehicle producing countries have already set a 2040 deadline for the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.
JET aspires to be Africa's Tesla by providing environmentally friendly vehicles that will usher the continent into the future of mobility.
