eMOS, a manufacturer and distributor of electric vehicles, has commenced proof of concept testing in Mombasa of an electric three-wheeler vehicle under their own brand name which is derived from ‘Electric Mobility Solutions’.

Eight vehicles will be field tested in real-life conditions over a period of three-months and will be used by Matatu (taxi) operators to transport fare-paying passengers all over Mombasa.

eMOS is a company conceived and operated within Export Trading Group (ETG), a global player with a diverse portfolio of expertise across multiple industries, encompassing agricultural inputs, logistics and distribution, infrastructure, food processing and supply chain optimisation.

The technology partner in this venture is 3ev, a well-known supplier of electric mobility solutions from India.

The eMOS VEGA 4i is an electric 3-wheel rickshaw that can carry a driver and three passengers. Powered by a 5,500 Watts permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), this three-wheeler can reach a top speed of 45 km/h and climb 20% gradients.

Range on a full charge is 100 km plus 20 km reserve. At 100 km range the driver receives an audible warning that the vehicle is due for a charge. Normal charging time is approximately 3.5 hours, while a full charge overnight from empty will take 8 to 9 hours.

The eMOS company is also investing in a rapid charging system.

The vehicle is equipped with lithium iron phosphate batteries featuring a voltage of 51.2 V, capacity of 206 Ah, producing power of 10.547 Wh and covered by a 5-year warranty.

The batteries are located underneath the cargo box on the battery tray. These are accessible through a hatch located inside the cargo box.

The dashboard LED display indicates information on the current state of the battery and speed of the vehicle. The LED display alternately indicates the odometer and remaining voltage reading.

When the battery is fully charged all five sections of the battery level indicator will darken. One by one, the sections will go off indicating a drop in battery charge level. Whenever only one section is darkened, the vehicle needs to be recharged.

As a safety precaution, a brake cut-off sensor is utilized - when the brakes are engaged and the hand throttle rotated, the cut-off sensor restricts all signals from the hand throttle to the motor.

No signal is sent to the controller, therefore restricting the acceleration of the vehicle. A fire extinguisher is located at the bottom most left-hand side of the dashboard.

Warranty on the eMOS VEGA 4i is 60,000 km or 3-years (whichever is earlier).

Two- and three-wheelers are a central transport mode in many low- and middle-income countries. According to published studies, highly polluting two- and three-wheelers can account for the same quantity of emissions as a passenger car.

The eMOS VEGA 4i therefore makes sense in global efforts to reduce emissions and provide eco-friendly mobility solutions.

But it is not just about providing eco-friendly modes of transport. According to a technical report by the Africa E-Mobility Alliance of 24 April 2023, it costs KSh 79 to 118 to operate an electric motorcycle over 100 km (4 kWh/100km) as opposed to KSh 662 for an internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycle consuming 3,74 l/100km.

Accordingly, they claim that with the current EM tariff, driving an EV in Kenya is cheaper (in some cases up to 8 times) than driving an ICE vehicle.

Local assembly has huge benefits. Kenya incentivizes the local assembly of vehicles imported as completely knocked down (CKD) kits by exempting them from import duties and taxes.

Only VAT is applicable. Fully built imports would cost a lot more on the market and would not be as competitive with their ICE equivalents.

The eMOS company also has plans to shortly start CKD operations for the eMOS VEGA 4i in Tanzania and Benin, with other East and West African countries to follow at a later stage.

Not only will this broaden the scope of eco-friendly e-mobility solutions, but also create much needed jobs with specific focus on empowering women.

Kalpesh Patel, CEO of the eMOS said  “Our holding company, Export Trading Group, is a well-known brand on the African continent with wide-ranging interests in agriculture, commodities trading, logistics and vehicle and farm equipment distribution. Our aim is to provide innovative products at affordable price points both in retail and leasing models. "

Adding "We would also be setting up a complete ecosystem for e-mobility which will include the Battery as a Service business concept. The eMOS VEGA 4i has been designed keeping in mind the expectations of our local Matatu drivers and targeting women empowerment. The eMOS VEGA 4i is a very user-friendly vehicle and can easily be driven by women.”