What To Consider Before Buying An Electric Car In Nigeria

Luxury cars like electric cars will be really cool to drive around; in addition, it brings more glamour to your garage if you know what I mean. Electric cars are one of the latest breeds of cars powered by electricity; meaning you don’t have to spend a dime anymore on petrol or gas.

While electric cars like Tesla models, Nissan Leaf, KIA Soul, Volkswagen E-golf etc are being widely accepted as the norm in other parts of the world, the question we might want to consider is; can I own or even buy an electric car in Nigeria?

Well, to answer this, let’s consider a few things together.

Electric cars run fully on electricity

Electric cars are not like hybrid cars or gasoline-powered vehicles, where stopping at a filling or fuel station to fuel your car is enough to keep you going. This implies, owning an electric car will demand that you constantly charge to cruise around with it. One challenge you will face in buying any electric car is where to charge. Unlike other parts of the world, where there are public charging stations strategically situated in different places, in Nigeria, there is no record of any charging station for electric vehicles.

Remember to check: Cost Of Running An Electric Car In Nigeria

Although, most electric vehicles have a charging cable that allows you to charge at home if you may. A single charge overnight is able to top the battery by 80% or even give a full charge for most EVs; however, in Nigeria, there is the problem of epileptic power supply. Hence, there is no guarantee you can always have your car fully charged.

However, when the Hyundai Kona from Stallion Motors was launched in November 2020 in Nigeria, the Governor of Lagos State pledged to establish public charging stations in the state. So, if you are planning to buy an electric vehicle, you can go ahead if you have a stable source of power at your residence, or have hope till public charging stations are established.

Maintenance And Technical Know-How

Electric cars are exceptional models of cars with unpopular features. For instance, in Tesla cars, the Autopilot System offers full-time drivers assistance to steer, accelerate, brake etc on its own accord. Other features of the car are the touch-screen dashboard which offers details on how to operate the car; the in-built safety system etc. Where I am headed is that in Nigeria currently, our engineers and mechanics don’t have the expertise to maintain or repair any of these brands of cars. Therefore, if for any reason, there is a fault or something you don’t understand about the operation of your Tesla Model, you might need to travel or ship the car to Tesla Inc. to get the problem solved. This same challenge applies to any other model of electric car you want to buy.

BAD ROADS

Most electric cars offer a smooth ride; the best kind of road to get the best experience out of an EV is a road free of bumps, potholes and traffic congestion. For instance, a Hyundai Kona has an inbuilt 201-hp electric motor powered by a 64.0-kWh battery that helps the Hyundai Kona EV achieve an acceleration of 0 – 60mph in 6.4 seconds.  In fact, Tesla cars can zoom off instantly as soon as the ignition is turned on at full throttle. But you see, most of Nigeria’s roads don’t allow for this kind of badass cruise.

LEGALITY

Another important factor to consider is; whether is it legal to drive an electric vehicle in Nigeria. Well, there is no law against electric vehicles in Nigeria as of now.

CAR DEALERSHIP

The dealership for most electric vehicles is not popular yet. This is one of the reasons why getting spare parts in Nigeria is almost impossible. So, if you want to buy an electric car, the best option might just be to import from the manufacturing country. The challenge with this is that you will have to pay more to own an electric vehicle due to importation expenses, immigration charges, etc.

PRICE

Electric cars vary in price, from very affordable to expensive ones. Every electric car has its own features and uniqueness. Here is a list of the prices of electric cars available in Nigeria:

Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle	₦10 million
KIA Soul EV	₦12-14 million
Ford Focus Electric	₦10 million
Volkswagen E-Golf	₦11 million
Chevrolet Volt	₦22 million
Hyundai Kona	₦22 million
Smart Fortwo Electric Drive	₦9 million
Honda Clarity	₦12 million
Tesla Model S Long Range	₦31 million
Tesla Model 3 Performance Trim	₦21 million
Tesla Model X Long Range	₦34 million

Also Check: Electric Car Prices In Nigeria – List Of Electric Cars In Nigeria

So, you can easily make your choice of which you want to buy.

Considering the above conditions about if you can buy an electric vehicle in Nigeria, well, there are no hard and fast rules to it, the above conditions can guide you in making the best decision.