A few months after the Federal Government launched the first electric vehicle in Nigeria, the Hyundai Kona assembled by Stallion Motors, it commissioned a solar powered electric vehicle charging station in Lagos.
The charging station, which was built and commissioned by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) at the University of Lagos, has become a big boost to Nigeria’s quest for electric vehicles.
Charging stations have been one of the biggest challenges of Nigeria’s desire to transit from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. The challenge, which was compounded by the country’s poor electricity supply has discouraged many who have the desire to own and use EVs in Nigeria. But the newly commissioned charging station, which makes it two in the country, is creating a path for increased interest in locally made electric vehicles.
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The DG of NADDC, Engr. Jelani Aliyu, said the charging station is 100% solar powered with installation consisting of 60 PV Monocrystalline Solar arrays (panels), which have a capacity of 86.4 kilowatts per hour. The Power bank consists of 36 units of dry cell, deep cycle batteries of up to 95Kwh storage capacity.
The system provides ordinary 13A and 15A sockets that can support all types of normal chargers. The station also provides a 7.4kw CCS fast charger and can support up to 11kw types, he said.
He further explained that it also comes with three online-offline 5KVA Hybrid inverters synchronized together to give 15 KVA/48 WATTS, as well as 36 units of Deep Cycle Gel batteries with an output of 48 volts/19 and 0.
Aliyu added that the monitoring and evaluation team shall consist of experts from NADDC, University, Hyundai and relevant stakeholders.
To test the effectiveness of the charging station, Hyundai Kona EV, the Jet EV Van and the Electric Vehicle developed by the engineering students of the University of Lagos were charged.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo said the development was part of the Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s initiative to promote advanced technology transfer and the development of domesticated human capital.
For my ministry, programs such as these are the lifeblood of everything we are trying to achieve.
This charging station has been developed by the NADDC in its effort to promote applicable local solutions for vehicle electrification in Nigeria. It will offer students firsthand experience with the latest innovations in mobility and renewable power technology.
It is strategized to be an effective platform for focused research and development to even more applicable viable electrification solutions for Nigeria and Africa, he stated.
While the new charging station signals a change of attitude by Nigerian government, which has for long opposed any move for transition to environmentally friendly vehicles, it significantly falls short.
For a country of more than 200 million people with states, cities and towns spanning across 923,768 km land mass, two electric vehicles charging stations is too poor to start with in 2021.