Nigeria commissions its first solar-powered electric vehicle charging station
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has commissioned the first ever 100% solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in Nigeria.
(The NADDC is a Federal Government Agency whose vision is to transform Nigeria into a modern industrialized nation).
The project which is an innovation in the Nigerian automotive industry comes two months after the Federal Government unveiled Hyundai Kona, Nigeria’s first locally assembled electric car, on the 5th February 2021, through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).
The new solar-powered electric vehicle charging station, the first of its kind, has absolutely zero emissions and zero waste.
JELANI ALIYU, DG NADDC COMMISSIONS FIRST SOLAR POWERED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION.
“Today is the start of a new era for Nigeria. It marks a significant milestone in NADDC's commitment to creating a world class automotive sector in the country. pic.twitter.com/buCXt0Facu
— NADDC Nigeria (@NADDCouncil) April 8, 2021
The innovation was achieved in collaboration with the academia in Nigeria.
According to Mr Jelani Aliyu, Director-General of the NADDC,
“This strategy is important because it is not just a charging station but a platform and spring board for advanced research and development: to study, monitor and evaluate the entire system: the solar cells, storage units and electric vehicles in various climatic and usage conditions and hopefully develop even more effective solutions for Nigerian and African applications.
“The monitoring and evaluation team shall consist of experts from the NADDC, Usmanu Danfodio University, Hyundai and relevant Stakeholders.
“The installed solar arrays (panels) have a capacity of 86.4 kiolwatts per hour. They are coupled to three online-offline Hybrid Inverters; each one is 5KVA. They are synchronized to give a combined output of 15KVA/48 WATTS.
“The system’s energy storage is made up of 36 units of deep cycle gel batteries with an output of 48 volts/1980 amperes.”
This Charging station is an important component of our national Vehicle Electrification Program. We are collaborating with 3 universities. Usmanu Danfodio, Sokoto, University of Lagos and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
— NADDC Nigeria (@NADDCouncil) April 8, 2021
Amaka E. Nliam
