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Problems Faced by Electric Car Owners in Kenya

No doubt Electric Cars are getting attention of Kenyan People due to its lower fuel costs, quiet driving and money saving in long run. On Advertisements and papers, EVs look like they are the solution that people have been looking for but in real things get complicated when you ask someone for review or drive new one yourself. As soon as Kenyan People buy EV they started to question like : Where do I Charge my vehicle outside city? How would I charge my car if there’s  a blackout ? These are not the only ones, there are many problems you should know before buying one. Here in this article, we’re going to highlight the all problems that will help you to make a smart car buying decision. So Let’s start    

Challenge 1: Limited Public Charging Infrastructure

One of the biggest problems electric car owners in Kenya face is where to charge, especially outside major towns. Cities like Nairobi has few EV charging stations in malls , in private compounds, etc but once you got low charging while driving in smaller towns or highways, charging stations are very limited, leaving you worried whether battery will last until next charging point or not.

In these cases, EV owners have to even plan their long distance drive such as calculating distance, battery usage, checking routes, etc which is totally inefficient if you have a petrol vehicle. Power outages and unreliable electricity in some areas make the situation even more challenging. Until charging stations become as common as fuel stations, this remains a major barrier for electric cars in Kenya.

Challenge 2: High Initial Purchase Cost

Another Problem for a EV owner is that EV’s have higher upfront cost. Though EV’s saves you fuel money in long run but  their initial price is high enough to make buyers think again. This makes electric cars feel more like a luxury choice than a practical everyday option.

If someone want to buy a premium brand EV car such as lexus cars for sale in Kenya, these models often cost significantly more than their petrol counterparts. Overall, the higher entry price of EVs  keeps many potential buyers on the fence. Until prices come down or financing becomes more accessible, cost will continue to slow down EV adoption in Kenya.

Challenge 3: Battery Range & Degradation Concerns

Battery range of EV cars is the next big and crucial concern for Car owners. Most Brands advertise  an impressive battery range on news and social media, but real-world driving is different. Traffic jams, rough roads, hilly terrain, heavy loads, and even aggressive driving can drain the battery faster than expected. This gap between claimed range and actual range often catches first-time owners by surprise.

On the top of that there’s another factor which is battery life or capacity, which slowly decreases over time. Since battery replacement is expensive and not easily available locally, many owners worry about what happens after a few years. Even if the car still runs well, reduced range can affect daily convenience and resale value.

Challenge -4 :  Charging Challenges at Home

Charging EV at home sounds easy but not in Kenya as many homes in Kenya aren’t wired handles continuous high power, resulting n slower battery charging. This gets more difficult if you live in apartments or rental houses, getting permission to install a charging point can be another headache.

Other than this, a planned overnight charge can easily be interrupted by a blackout, leaving the car undercharged in the morning. While some owners manage with backup power or solar setups, this adds extra cost and planning. Until home charging becomes more reliable and accessible, it remains a key challenge for electric car owners in Kenya.

Challenge -5 : Lack of Trained EV Mechanics & Service Centers

One issue that Kenya people usually oversee is that they don’t think about servicing and repairs. Unlike petrol cars, EVs internal mechanism and structure a bit different and requires specialized knowledge, diagnostic tools, and safety training. As this tech is new, only a few garages are there who understand electric vehicles, leaving owners with limited options when issues arise. If you own a brand like Subaru Cars for Sale in Kenya, where spare parts, mechanics, and service centres are widely available. With EVs, owners may have to rely on the original importer or a single specialist garage, which can mean longer waiting times and higher costs. So until there are more trained technicians are available, this remains a serious concern.

Challenge -6 :  Resale Value & Market Uncertainty

Last but not the least is its Resale value in Kenya .  Since the EV market is still small, many buyers are unsure how easy it will be to sell an electric car after a few years. Also as we discussed that EV’s Battery life degraded over the time so a potential buyer often worry about battery health, charging availability, and repair costs, which can reduce its resale value or demand. Second as EV industry is growing every day,  newer models with better battery and faster charging are released frequently, making older models feel outdated quickly which reduces the resale value further.

Conclusion

Electric cars in Kenya offers a lot of benefits such as quiet driving, no pollution, no fuel consumption means save petrol/diesel costs. Electric cars aren’t perfect yet and this article makes that clear that which challenges EV owners have to face. But the good news is that things are moving in the right direction. Charging networks are slowly improving, EV options are increasing, and awareness is growing fast. If you’re a city driver with predictable daily routes and access to home charging, an electric car can already be a smart, cost-saving choice. If not, hybrids can be a great middle ground for now.

This is where Maridady Motors comes in. Instead of pushing trends, we help you choose what actually works for your lifestyle and budget. Whether you want an electric car, a hybrid, or a petrol car. Maridady will provide you the best used cars for sale in Kenya at prices you can afford.