TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya has installed 30 charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) and motorbikes as the oil marketer diversifies from fossil fuels in a bid to tap into the fast-growing uptake of electric mobility.
The French oil major revealed that it has partnered with e-mobility firms to set up 28 charging stations for motorbikes and two for motor vehicles.
The setting up of the stations underscores TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya’s shift from its traditional stronghold of fossil fuels to tap into the growing popularity of electric vehicles and two-wheelers. The company is the second-biggest player in Kenya’s fossil fuel market, with a 14.01 per cent share.
Kenya, like other economies globally, is experiencing a surge in electric mobility in the wake of a global push to cut fossil fuel emissions in the transport sector. Escalating prices of diesel and petrol are also expected to further drive uptake of EVs as consumers seek to reduce fuel costs.
Increased adoption of e-mobility is expected to eat into fossil fuel sales, highlighting why oil marketers such as TotalEnergies are seeking a share of the nascent market.
“Strategic partnerships have been established with leading e-mobility companies, including Ampersand, Roam and Arc Ride, resulting in the development of 28 electric mobility sites that offer battery charging and swapping services for electric motorbikes,” TotalEnergies said in its latest annual report.
“Additionally, two EV charging stations have been installed to support four-wheel vehicles.”
TotalEnergies did not disclose the value of sales made to EV consumers last year. Globally, oil marketers are increasingly converting space within their retail stations into EV charging hubs to capture emerging demand.
Industry data from the Electric Mobility Association of Kenya shows there were 9,144 new registrations of vehicles, motorcycles, bikes and three-wheelers in 2024, more than double the 4,048 registered the previous year.
Motorcycles dominate the figures, with 4,862 new registrations in 2024, accounting for more than half of all EV registrations, according to the data. However, growth in electric motorcycles remains gradual, with 247 units registered in 2024 compared to 99 the previous year.
Rising fuel prices have been a key driver of EV adoption, particularly among public transport operators. Consumers currently pay about Sh16 per kilowatt-hour during peak charging hours and Sh8 per kilowatt-hour off-peak.
Meanwhile, a litre of petrol and diesel recently rose sharply in Nairobi, reaching Sh197.60 and Sh196.63 respectively, driven by global supply disruptions and higher import costs.
Prices are expected to remain elevated in the coming months, further reinforcing the shift towards electric mobility as consumers seek cost-saving alternatives.
