During Day 1 of the Tech Expo, as startups were showcasing, in a another segment of the huge Landmark center, A power Packed conference was going on which i attended….One of the most thought-provoking moments it really was, during a panel session that dug into a question many are still whispering about: Can Africa really go electric?
With Mr. Tolu Williams (CEO of Siltech), Adetayo Bamiduro (Co-founder of MAX.ng), and Bola Abiodun as moderator, the panel titled “The Future of Africa’s EV Market” brought together lived experience, operational knowledge, and technical context. And what made it powerful was that it wasn’t speculative. It was grounded. Practical. Friction-filled, yes—but also forward-facing, He mentioned how the EV journey started a while ago when himself and MAX started working on EVs dated back 2018, back when in his words “you could not see a single EV in the street because nobody knew about EVs”, and how rapidly we’ve embraced the use of Electric vehicles, and how climate change has become a huge incentive on driving EVs especially to reduce carbon emissions. He said Over the years, EVs have gone from being cool to being cheap… He said when they just got introduces, youd be spending between 6-700 dollars but right now the cost per Kw/h for a grade A LFP battery in Greater China is Knocking on $55 indicating a 10x Reduction in roughly around 10 years, mentioning that when you look at the Acceleration of the technology and the massive and aggressive reduction in cost, explaining the rapid adoption of EVs.
“We cannot import a Western EV model into Africa.” — Tolu Williams
Tolu Williams opened the discussion with hard truths. As the founder of Siltech, a company focused on building charging infrastructure across Nigeria, his stance was clear: if Africa wants to scale electric vehicles, we need our own blueprint.
He explained the logistical gaps that international models ignore—like unstable electricity, low internet penetration for app-based EV stations, and payment issues related to FX volatility. Most Western countries operate with high grid stability and generous EV subsidies. That’s not the African reality.
Siltech’s solution? Building solar-powered EV charging stations, especially along commercial corridors like Lagos-Ibadan and Lekki-Epe. Tolu also shared their partnership work with real estate developers and transportation companies to integrate charging into new builds, rather than retrofitting later.
He didn’t pretend it was easy. He talked about vandalism risks, battery theft, and even the lack of clear EV policy frameworks at both state and federal levels. But what made his take compelling was the engineering mindset—the small, focused, step-by-step infrastructure approach rather than waiting for a big bang.
“EVs are already working for our drivers.” — Adetayo Bamiduro
Adetayo Bamiduro’s contribution was even more eye-opening. As co-founder of MAX.ng, he came with real data—and a real track record. MAX isn’t just talking about electric mobility; they’ve deployed over 2,000 electric motorcycles across Lagos, Ibadan, and beyond, with more to come through partnerships with Yamaha and other manufacturers.
He broke it down in numbers:
- EV bikes reduce operational costs by 40–60% per driver.
- Maintenance is easier with fewer moving parts.
- Drivers, many of whom started as skeptics, now actively request EVs because of the fuel savings.
- Charging infrastructure is being built along key transport routes.
But perhaps the most striking thing he said was this:
“For many of our riders, switching to electric is not about climate change—it’s about survival.”
It hit me. In Africa, EV adoption won’t come from a desire to be green—it’ll come from economic logic. If going electric helps drivers earn more, transport companies reduce cost, and cities lower pollution—then it makes sense.
The Real Barriers: Policy, Power, and Perception
Moderator Bola Abiodun helped pull everything together. She asked the questions that mattered:
- What’s being done about EV financing?
- Can existing grid systems even support mass adoption?
- How do we deal with regulatory grey zones?
Both speakers acknowledged the gap: while the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has begun rolling out EV policies and pilot charging stations in Abuja and Lagos, there’s no unified federal framework yet. Import duties on EV parts remain high. Local manufacturing is still a dream, not a standard.
Another topic that stood out to me was battery management. Tolu spoke briefly about exploring battery swap stations (especially for bikes and tricycles), while Adetayo mentioned their move toward in-house battery servicing to reduce long-term costs.
Takeaway: Africa’s EV Future is Already Underway—It Just Doesn’t Look Like Tesla
This panel shifted something for me. I went in curious, and left clear: Africa’s EV market won’t grow from wishful thinking. It will grow because people are solving real, gritty, on-the-ground problems—slowly, but surely.
We won’t see futuristic showrooms overnight. But we will see charging stations integrated into petrol stations, motorcycles running quieter on Lagos roads, and startups like Siltech and MAX proving that electrification in Africa is not only possible—it’s already happening.
This wasn’t just a “tech talk.” It was a reality check and roadmap. And I’m glad I was there to witness it.
