FreedomEV: Company launches Uganda's first electric taxi

FreedomEV has introduced electric public transport taxis, offering an eco-friendly solution aimed at tackling long-standing environmental pollution issues and promoting sustainable urban transportation.

Unveiled at the Bwaise Transit Terminal, Uganda's first commercial electric taxi will lower transportation costs for both taxi operators and travelers fostering economic development and contributing to a pollution-free environment.

During the launch, Ratan Tayel, Director of FreedomEV, highlighted that this taxi is fully electric, making it cost effective because it eliminates fuel use.

"This vehicle will run 250 kilometres with one hour charging, and that hour charging will cost approximately shs40,000. So this is economic, and with this vehicle, you don't have to go for services, you don't need any oil, you don't have to change your filter, air filter, oil filter, you don't have to change. You only change the shock absorbers when damaged, but other things, you don't need to change, Tayel said.

Ratan noted that the vehicle is environmentally friendly because it does not use fuel and does not contribute to sound pollution.

"There is no sound, there is no pollution, So this is economical and environment friendly."

He stated that this electric vehicle will help the government save foreign currency by eliminating the need to import fuel from other countries.

"The government will save their foreign currency, because now they are consuming diesel and petrol, which we have to import from other countries, whereas we have electricity, if we use electricity, we will save foreign currency."

Ratan revealed that their goal is to replace all old taxis in Uganda with electric taxis.

This matatu is an 11-seater, featuring comfortable seating, air conditioning, and WiFi, and costs shs 120 million.

It has a charging station at Bwaise Terminal, where a full charge takes only one hour and costs shs40,000.

Jafari Abuyi, the marketing manager, stated that they plan to use these vehicles for public transport and revealed their goal of introducing 14-seater vehicles and buses to make Uganda's public transportation more eco-friendly.

Abuyi added that these electric vehicles benefit the economy by mitigating issues related to fuel price fluctuations.

"The car has a warranty of three years, and the battery life has a warranty of eight years, which is the main issue, since it's fully electric, I mean, we don't need to use fuel for it. So it saves the economy with with issues of fuel, sometimes we've been we've been having fluctuations in fuel prices, so it will really help us a lot."

Douglas Mugera Mayinja, a leader at the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation, stated that this vehicle aligns with their efforts to promote environmental conservation.

"Concerning the environment, it is very good because it is not harmful to human beings."

Mugera hailed FreedomEV saying that this innovation will help them as taxi operators to save money."

"From Kampala to Mbale, motor vehicles  consume fuel worth shs170,000 but the electric one  will need only shs40,000 to charge and this is only for going and coming back."

Fredrick Makanga Bogere, a director at Kalocen Investments Ltd, the caretakers of Bwaise Terminal, urged the government to embrace the concept of electric vehicles by promoting and encouraging their adoption.

He praised FreedomEV for their innovative approach.