KENYA – Sendy Ltd, an on-demand logistics company is piloting its first electric vehicle fleets to help address clean transportation in Nairobi.
The Nairobi-based company has partnered with electric vehicle provider ARC Ride to deploy 3-wheeler (3W) electric vehicles, also known as E3’s, for the last-mile delivery solution, and reduce carbon footprint.
Under an agreement between the parties, four E3’s (e-tuk tuks) will be procured for the 2-month pilot project duration and Sendy will seek to acquire more by the end of this year – coming at a time when urban populations are pushing the growth of the delivery ecosystem and grappling with high air pollution.
According to Sendy’s Transport Vice President Chris Nyaga, the increased demand for the last-mile connectivity for the delivery of goods is naturally pushing the growth of 3-wheeler goods vehicles in urban logistics.
“3-wheeler electric vehicles are suitable for all kinds of business needs that require last-mile deliveries. The 3W EVs are becoming important in the final mile segment and will help us reduce delivery costs for our customers in a clean ecosystem. This partnership with ARC Ride is a progressive investment that will pioneer change in last-mile delivery in Kenya,” said Chris.
The preference for electric 3Ws is due to the limitations of big trucks or mini-vans that may be costly to operate and cannot offer doorstep reach in most of the cities due to narrow streets, while 2-wheelers (2Ws) offer only limited load capacity.
“This partnership with ARC Ride is a progressive investment that will pioneer change in last-mile delivery in Kenya”
According to environmental reports, three-wheel electric vehicles can reduce carbon tailpipe emissions by 13 tonnes per 100 km and also offer a sizable cost in operational and maintenance savings which reflect customer savings.
Similarly, a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that ride-hailing companies were responsible for nearly 70% more carbon pollution than the modes of transport they displace, like mass transit, biking, and walking.
To address this, they have been called on to reduce emissions with more concerted efforts such as electrifying their fleet of vehicles.
Sendy joins another mobility company Bolt which introduced electric bikes, tuk tuks (tricycles) and scooters on its platform coming as the on-demand transport company looks to tackle the twin challenges of fuel price fluctuations and environmental pollution in the East African country.
Bolt’s addition of electric vehicles to its fleet is in line with an expansion plan for greener transport options in Kenya, particularly in its delivery unit, with the ultimate goal of reducing the company’s environmental footprints.
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