Kenyans can now source and import used Electric Vehicles into the country but the battery life must not be less than 80%. This is according to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) which is the National standards body in Kenya through a public notice issued through the official KEBS X, formerly Twitter, account.
The notice further guided the process of inspecting the electric vehicles with importers expected to have the Used vehicles inspected from the country of supply as a mandatory requirement if the country has QISJ inspection centers. QISJ is the approved inspection agency for motor vehicles, mobile equipment, and Used Spare parts for goods destined for Kenya.
Different from importers of other used vehicles different from used Electric Vehicles the importers without the inspection document (COR) may not have an option of destination inspection if the vehicles are from Japan, UAE, Thailand, Singapore, South Africa, and the UK since the inspection by QISJ is mandatory. Imports from other countries will have the option of getting a destination inspection.
An average EV’s battery life ranges between around 15 – 20 years. Having a limit on battery life enables importers and the market to have a working number to enable imports, This move is seen to greatly improve the growth of electric mobility in the country and accelerate the uptake of Electric vehicles in the country. Some users have expressed concerns that this move may lead to Kenya being among the countries that will get e-waste dumped as a way to dispose of them legally has been availed by Kenya.
According to the KS1515:2000 standard, Kenya has a limit of Up to 8 years from the year of first registration on all used motor vehicles with an inspection to be done before clearance and a COR is issued. New or Zero-Mileage vehicles are required to have a type approval or a manufacturer’s warranty at the time of importation to be allowed into Kenya.
