Nigeria’s first locally assembled electric car, the Hyundai Kona, is set to be officially unveiled by the Federal Government through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) today, 5th February 2021.
The electric car, which was assembled by the Stallion Group Automobile, has been tagged as an innovation that will enable Nigeria and Nigerians to benefit from the gains in renewable and sustainable energy. This innovation will help to foster an eco-friendly environment.
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According to the Director-General of NADDC, Mallam Jelani Aliyu, the ceremony will be followed by a roadshow across the city of Abuja to provide Nigerians with the opportunity to see, feel, and drive the Electric Vehicle (EV).
What you should know
- The Hyundai Kona was launched on November 13, 2020, by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at VON Automobiles in Ojo, Lagos State where the car was manufactured.
- According to a Nairametrics report, the Electric car was regarded in the European motoring industry as the world’s number one, and it costs N24 million.
- However, the material used to assemble the 100% electric and zero-emission car was mostly sourced locally.
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Why this matters
- The Hyundai Kona shows Nigeria’s readiness towards addressing the problems of climate change, as human activities have severely impacted changes in global temperature and weather patterns.
- With the launch of the Nigerian-made EV, Nigeria joins the rest of the world in embracing the recent innovation in energy mobility towards electric cars, courtesy of Hyundai and the Stallion Group.
- This innovation is an open letter from Nigeria to the rest of the world, as it shows the country’s seriousness about a clean environment through clean and other sustainable energy options.
- This new development is a move towards replacing internal combustion engine-powered vehicles with electric vehicles, in a bid to reduce environmental pollution and keying into an eco-friendly green environment.
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This is a well come development.It is my hope that, government of Nigeria will assist in sustaining this laudable initiative. Nigeria is gradually joining the league of advanced nations.