Why it is time for EVs in Kenya, Filip Lövström, Opibus

In this podcast, Shane is joined by In this podcast, Shane is joined by Filip Lövström, CEO and Co-Founder of Opibus, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer based in Nairobi. Filip speaks on his background and what his company does. He also provides an insight into the massive potential for electric vehicles in the region.

He also explains what makes Opibus’ approach unique and different from other manufacturers and gives his thoughts on what the future holds for electric vehicles, discussing the possibilities of reaching 100% electric vehicle usage in the future.

Why it is time for EVs in Kenya, Filip Lövström, Opibus

The Beginning

Opibus was founded in 2017 just as electric mobility was taking off, when electric cars were just arriving on our streets. Opibus vision is to make electric transport more accessible to a broader market by making the technology more cost efficient and simplifying deployment. The company focuses on all-electric conversion kits for fleet vehicles such as light trucks, public transport and buses, as well as electric motorcycles and energy systems.

These focus areas have been chosen to maximise impact, as these vehicles are some of the highest CO2 emitting vehicles on the market and are largely an untapped opportunity. Therefore creating the standard for electric mobility in Africa.

A New Approach

This approach creates an ecosystem solution for sustainable transport, integrating technologies from the whole value-chain, with solutions within energy generation all the way to the end user driving the vehicles.

Opibus was founded as a research project at one of Sweden’s top technical universities with a mission to implement electric mobility in emerging markets. This meant rethinking how the technology would be implemented and how it should be provided. Kenya was chosen as the location for the headquarters as it is the fastest growing nation in sub-saharan Africa.

Kenya also has a growing amount of used vehicle imports, which means electric conversions really make sense, replacing expended combustion engines with electric systems, leveraging the existing chassis and implementing proven technology creates a cost effective second life for buses, trucks and fleet vehicles.

The future

With multiple vehicles in different segments launched, Opibus has proven and validated the vehicles in one of the harshest terrains in the world. Showing that electric deployment in emerging markets not only works better, but makes financial sense. Not only saving customers immense amounts of fuel but also reducing CO2 emission from an accelerating global climate change.

This is only the start of our journey, in the coming years we will be expanding to several markets around the globe. Simplifying implementation, increasing fleet efficiency, reducing cost and over the decade creating a positive impact on the world around us.

About Filip

Filip Lövström is the CEO and Co-Founder of Opbus, who recently secured $7.5 Million dollar investment. Filip spotted a gap in the East African market and founded Opibus, which has gone on to become Africa’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer.

During the Electric Motorbikes Event in Kenya, Jane Marriott (British High Commissioner), and Betty Maina (Honorary Cabinet Secretary of Industry) drove on our electric motorcycle!

Together we can make the partnership between Kenya and the UK to cut carbon emissions successful! pic.twitter.com/uMwGQSveqR

— Opibus (@Opibus1) November 14, 2021

Filip started out as a mechanical engineer and has spent the last 10 years working on electric vehicles. Opibus set up its operations in 2018 in Kenya. He aims to deliver Technology and Climate Solutions that are available today.

About Shane

Shane is currently interning with Irish Tech News. He is in his third year of studying Journalism at NUI Galway where he also studies IT and has an interest in programming and web development. He has also previously studied game design and development before deciding to study journalism.

He also likes to write about sport in his spare time. His main areas of interest are football, rugby and basketball. He is currently interning with Irish Tech News which will last for the duration of his third year in university.

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