The Africa EV Show

The China-Global South Project

Join Nairobi-based multimedia journalist Njenga Hakeenah as he explores the fast-evolving world of electric mobility across Africa. From cutting-edge EVs and electrified scooters to industry trends and clean energy innovations, this podcast delivers expert insights and in-depth conversations with key players driving Africa's electric revolution. Listeners will meet some of the smartest, most creative tech entrepreneurs on the continent who are shaping the future of transportation. Stay plugged into the future of mobility on The Africa EV Show!

  1. 8 APR

    From Diesel to Solar: How Nigerian School is Cutting its Energy Costs

    A quiet energy revolution is unfolding in Lagos and it's happening inside a school. In this episode, we sit down with Bukola Oluwalade, Director of Abba's Heart Schools, to explore how one institution is rethinking energy, transport, and sustainability from the ground up. From fully solar-powered classrooms to electric school buses, this is a real-world case study of how Africa can leapfrog into a cleaner, more resilient future. As fuel prices rise and grid instability persists, Abba's Heart Schools made a bold move: eliminate diesel generators, cut fuel costs to zero on select routes, and power both campus and transport using solar energy. The result? Lower costs, cleaner air, quieter campuses, and greater energy independence. We break down the major issues in transitioning to renewable energy including: How solar power replaced unreliable grid electricity Why electric buses are transforming school transport economics The real costs and financing behind going off-grid Lessons for schools across Africa looking to transition How global oil shocks are accelerating the shift to clean energy This conversation goes beyond technology and looks at how changing mindsets, planning, and building resilient systems in a volatile world can offer greater autonomy and independence for African energy systems. If you're interested in Africa's energy transition, electric mobility, or practical sustainability solutions, this is a must-watch.

    19 min
  2. 4 MAR

    Building Nigeria's EV Industry to Cut Fuel Bills and Create Jobs

    This week, The Africa EV Show heads to Nigeria, where one company is tackling three of the country's biggest challenges at once: rising fuel costs, urban air pollution, and the urgent need for industrial jobs. Our guest, Dr. Sam Faleye, is the director of Saglev, a company with an ambitious mission to accelerate the shift from internal combustion engines to electric mobility in emerging markets. Saglev isn't just importing electric cars. It's assembling vehicles locally, building charging infrastructure, and developing an end-to-end ecosystem designed especially for ride-hailing fleets, mass mobility, and commercial logistics operators. In a country that spends billions of dollars annually on fuel imports, the stakes are high. Can electric vehicles reduce foreign exchange pressure? Can local assembly build technical skills and strengthen Nigeria's automotive value chain? And how viable is it to depend on Chinese EV technology while trying to build Nigeria's manufacturing capacity? These are some of the questions we're seeking answers to in this conversation, where we'll also explore: The gap in Nigeria's transport and energy ecosystem that Saglev set out to solve Why local assembly matters for cost, jobs, and skills transfer The role of Chinese EV platforms and supply chains in making Nigerian assembly viable The business models — leasing, fleet ownership, partnerships — that are actually working The biggest barriers slowing adoption today And what success for Nigeria's EV industry could look like over the next decade If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and join us next time as we continue exploring how e-mobility is reshaping jobs, industry, and development across the continent. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @hakeenah Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

    54 min
  3. China's Electric Buses in Africa: Clean Transport or a New Dependency?

    29 JAN

    China's Electric Buses in Africa: Clean Transport or a New Dependency?

    As African cities grow, they are choking even faster from diesel-belching public transport vehicles, which remain the backbone of urban life. In this episode of The Africa EV Show, we explore how Chinese electric buses (e-buses) are reshaping urban mobility across the continent and whether this shift represents true industrial transformation or simply a new form of dependency. Drawing lessons from China's large-scale e-bus rollout, we examine what's happening in cities like Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, and Dakar as Chinese OEMs partner with African governments and startups. Joining host Njenga Hakeenah is Prian Reddy, Senior Manager for Zero-Emission Buses at C40 Cities, who leads electric bus work across the continent. Together, they unpack the hard questions: • Are Chinese-African e-bus partnerships building real local manufacturing capacity? • Can African cities move beyond assembly into batteries, software, and core EV components? • Who controls data, financing, and power grids in this new electric transit ecosystem? • Do pay-as-you-go models empower operators — or create long-term technological lock-in? This episode goes beyond headlines to explore policy, financing, skills, minerals, grids, and industrial value chains, offering a clear-eyed look at what it will take for Africa's electric bus revolution to deliver jobs, cleaner air, and lasting economic value. As always, subscribe to The Africa EV Show for in-depth conversations on electric mobility, energy transition, and Africa's industrial future. Also, join the discussion in the comments: Are electric buses Africa's path to green industrialization — or a missed opportunity? JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @hakeenah Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

    36 min
  4. Petrol to Plug: Inside Ghana's EV and Used Car Market

    10/11/2025

    Petrol to Plug: Inside Ghana's EV and Used Car Market

    Can electric vehicles really thrive in a country where second-hand petrol and diesel cars still rule the roads? 🇬🇭 In this episode of The Africa EV Show, host Njenga Hakeenah sits down with Eddie Opoku, founder of Ghana's Ryde Channel, to unpack the realities of electric mobility in one of West Africa's most dynamic car markets. From the streets of Accra, where Chinese-made EVs are popping up beside used Toyotas, to the challenges of charging infrastructure, battery confidence, and resale value, this conversation explores the forces shaping Ghana's transition from internal combustion to electric. 🔋 Topics Covered: Why Ghana's second-hand market still dominates — and how EVs are breaking through The rise of affordable Chinese EVs and the brands leading the charge Charging access and local infrastructure gaps Consumer trust, resale value, and battery health concerns Policy shifts and local assembly — can Ghana build its own EV industry? 👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into Africa's electric mobility revolution — from Nairobi to Accra to Cape Town! JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @hakeenah Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

    32 min
  5. 03/11/2025

    Training Africa's EV Technicians: How Kenya is Preparing For E-Mobility Future

    In this episode of The Africa EV Show, host Njenga Hakeenah sits down with Alex Mũnene, Founder and fleet mobility expert at Advanced Mobility Kenya, to explore how training programs are shaping the continent's electric vehicle shift. From driver and mechanic training to policy and investment lessons from Rwanda, Ethiopia, and the DRC, this episode dives deep into how skills development, education, and hands-on programs are preparing Africa for the electric future. Mũnene, who organized Kenya's first EV driver and technical training, shares on-the-ground insights about:  ⚡ The biggest challenges for mechanics transitioning from ICE to EVs  ⚡ The growing role of private sector and partnerships in e-mobility training  ⚡ What new EV owners need to know before hitting the road  ⚡ Why Rwanda and Ethiopia are ahead — and what Kenya can learn Whether you're an EV enthusiast, mechanic, policymaker, or just curious about Africa's mobility transformation — this episode is for you. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @hakeenah Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

    32 min

About

Join Nairobi-based multimedia journalist Njenga Hakeenah as he explores the fast-evolving world of electric mobility across Africa. From cutting-edge EVs and electrified scooters to industry trends and clean energy innovations, this podcast delivers expert insights and in-depth conversations with key players driving Africa's electric revolution. Listeners will meet some of the smartest, most creative tech entrepreneurs on the continent who are shaping the future of transportation. Stay plugged into the future of mobility on The Africa EV Show!

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