In a first for Kenya’s rugged motorsport scene, an electric vehicle has entered the legendary Rhino Charge off-road challenge. The entry, fielded by EV Explorers, marks a major milestone in the country’s growing embrace of electric mobility.
The Rhino Charge is no ordinary off-road event. For 35 years, competitors have tackled brutal landscapes in custom 4×4 vehicles, all in the name of conservation. Organised by the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust, the annual event raises funds to build electric fences that help protect communities and wildlife from dangerous encounters. So far, the initiative has delivered over 780 km of fencing, safeguarding more than 80 000 families across Kenya.
Now, for the first time, an EV is part of the charge. EV Explorers’ electric 4×4 is not only breaking new ground — it’s challenging long-held assumptions about what battery-powered vehicles can handle. Team leader Richard Kiplagat said the goal is to show how climate action and environmental protection can work hand in hand. “This project is about proving that sustainable mobility can rise to the occasion, even in extreme conditions,” he said.
Engineer Nick Foley, also part of the team, believes the car’s performance could shift perceptions. “If we can show that an EV can survive and compete in one of the toughest off-road events in Africa, we open the door to more innovation in the sector,” he noted.
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Kenya has been making steady progress in the EV space. According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), policy changes are helping to drive interest and investment. Recent moves include halving the excise duty on EVs from 20 to 10%, a new electricity tariff specifically for electric mobility, and a VAT exemption for fully electric vehicles.
The EV Explorers project has drawn wide support from both the private and public sectors. Backers include Africa Practice, KenGen, Gulf Energy, Base Titanium and Safaricom, among others. The backing highlights a growing belief that electric power can be part of Africa’s off-road and off-grid future. Gloria Waswa, deputy executive director at Rhino Ark, said the EV entry reflects the spirit of the event. “The Rhino Charge has always been about innovation and adaptation. Welcoming an electric vehicle is a natural next step.”
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