EVs Could Be Great for Safaris
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
As more states move to ban gas-powered cars, automakers face increasing pressure to transition to
electric vehicles
(EVs). There are benefits not just for consumers, but also commercial fleets switching to electric. EVs are becoming more mainstream and we’re starting to see which other industries they could help improve and make greener. EVs could be great for cleaner and quieter safari tours, according to
Autoblog
.
The benefits of electric vehicles for safaris
Diesel and gas safari vehicles are often loud and smelly, which can be disruptive to animals and hurt the environment. Electric safari vehicles will be quieter and they won’t release odors that can scare animals (and riders).
All the typical benefits for passenger electric cars will be useful for electric safari vehicles as well. The vehicles won’t produce CO2 emissions and companies can save costs on refueling over time.
The maintenance and operating costs associated with gas and diesel engines can also be reduced.
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Opibus is the only company using EVs in Kenya
MORE: How to Make Sure Electric Cars Are Greener
Autoblog reported that the Kenyan-Swedish firm, Opibus, is converting their current vehicles in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve into EVs. Opibus is the only company converting its vehicles in Kenya and has only electrified 10 vehicles so far.
However, if Opibus starts to find a lot of success with switching to EVs, you can expect more safari companies to try. In Kenya, South Africa, and other countries where safari tourism is important to the economy, the less disruptive vehicles are, the better it is for wildlife.
It’s good for animals and for tourists who don’t want to scare away the elephants or lions they’re trying to see. But, there are several drawbacks to EVs.
Potential obstacles to EV adoption for nature reserves
It’s hard to find charging stations in many cities in the U.S., and it’ll be even harder to charge an EV in a nature reserve. Public charging stations won’t be as accessible in remote areas.
On top of that, range issues are another concern that impacts both everyday drivers and commercial EV customers. Safari companies might not have hours of time to recharge vehicles in between tours.
Increased charging infrastructure and improved battery technology will help consumers adopt EVs.
The future of EVs across industries
EV range is getting better and the U.S. is investing more in charging infrastructure. As EVs improve, you may start to see them in more industries from car-sharing to delivery.
The possibilities for EVs are promising. It’ll be important to find new ways to make transportation greener to combat the climate crisis.
If you’re looking to save money on a new EV,
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