GIGL partners JET Motor to launch Nigeria’s first electric vehicle for deliveries
GIGL partners JET Motor to launch Nigeria’s first electric vehicle for deliveries
GIG Logistics has partnered with JET Motor Company to introduce its first electric vehicle (EV) for Lagos deliveries.
Ocholi Etu, Director of Operations Services and Hubs at GIG Logistics, stated at the launch that the new EV fleet is the result of a two-year-old agreement to advance the company's zero-carbon initiative.
GIGL, he added, is the first African logistics company to take such a bold step.
The new electric vehicles are all-electric delivery vans designed specifically for Nigerian roads.
Oluwemimo Joseph, JET Motor Company's strategy and projects head and chief financial officer, explained that the van has a range of approximately 240 kilometers, easily factoring in the city's heavy traffic. He added, however, that the van can travel up to 300 kilometers under normal circumstances.
Due to concerns about charging infrastructure, GIGL has announced that they will begin with intra-state deliveries. Ocholi stated that the 240 kilometers per charge was sufficient for a full day's work in the state.
When asked if the Van would run out of power in heavy traffic, Joseph explained that it would not due to the discharge rate being as low as 2% in traffic.
In terms of charging infrastructure, a state-of-the-art charging station has been constructed within the GIG logistic digital hub in Gbagada, which can fully charge the van in two hours.
According to the GIGL Director, four electric vans have already been delivered and will be used for last-mile delivery within Lagos.
GIGL will also receive one year of maintenance on the vehicles and proper training for personnel on their use and maintenance as part of the partnership.
In describing the benefits of the new EV, Ocholi stated that the vehicle will enable the company to better serve its customers by providing higher-quality services at more affordable prices.
Lagos to see more EV delivery vans
According to the company, the new partnership is long-term and has no set end date. According to Ocholi, the EV unit received is only the first of many.
He explained that GIG logistics intends to phase out internal combustion engines and transition to an entirely electric fleet in the future.
He did not, however, provide a timeline. According to him, this is because the goal is a continuous process beset by numerous obstacles, such as infrastructure issues that must be resolved.
JET Motor's project head revealed that the company has a plant along Epe.
Rupani Sanjay, the company's Director of Sales and Marketing, added that the plant is currently capable of producing between five and seven vehicles per day.
Sanjay revealed that the Nigerian automobile company has produced approximately 500 units since its inception in 2018.
He explained that the EVs are designed in Europe but incorporate Asian technology. Additionally, it utilizes a lithium-ion battery with a lifespan of approximately five years.
A Giant step for the country
The launch of the indigenously manufactured electric vehicle is a significant milestone for the country. Mr Ocholi Etu stated that the new EV technology is an appeal to the government to cooperate in the drive for a more environmentally friendly Nigeria.
He explained that the government can make a significant contribution by providing infrastructure such as charging stations, assisting with part taxes, and investing in the space.
He was not alone, as Wemimo also emphasized the critical nature of government support in light of the country's poor infrastructure.
He emphasized the critical nature of manufacturing charging machines and establishing charging stations throughout the country.
The future is to go green
Carbon neutrality has been the global business world's primary focus for the last five years. The logistics industry has been identified as a significant contributor to carbon emissions, which contribute to ozone layer depletion.
As a technology-driven company, GIGL believes that the future is green.
According to Ocholi, adopting EVs is consistent with the company's goal of becoming a zero-carbon company. He emphasized that EVs are environmentally friendly, noiseless, and low-maintenance.
EVs are the way of the future. In some parts of the world, such as the EU and the US, the internal combustion engine is already being phased out.
The GIG's director believes that it will occur in Nigeria in the not-too-distant future.
Mr. Joseph, on the other hand, pleaded for haste. According to him, ICE manufacturing would have ceased entirely by 2050.
In conclusion
JET Motors stated that it will continue to expand EV infrastructure such as charging stations for its partners throughout the state. Mr Joseph added, however, that it would require the government's support.
He urged the Nigerian government to follow the lead of other countries such as Norway and the United Kingdom, which offer discounts and incentives to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in their regions.
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