The company, headquartered in Kigali, announced the vehicle on Tuesday, highlighting its purpose-built design for African conditions and a significant 10-year or 1-million-kilometre battery warranty.
According to IZI Electric, the Impala E30 is the first commercial vehicle on the continent to feature CATL's BC5 battery system, a key factor in the extended warranty offering.
CEO Alex Wilson stated that the warranty addresses long-standing concerns about battery longevity in electric vehicles, potentially boosting confidence for operators and financial institutions considering the transition to electric fleets.
The Impala E30 is slated to join IZI's leasing fleet in June, with initial deployments focusing on intercity routes exceeding 400 kilometers daily. The company reports having already secured over 50 pre-orders from transport operators across East Africa, indicating early market interest.
IZI Electric stresses the potential for significant cost savings with the Impala E30 compared to traditional diesel buses. They estimate that over a 10-year period, fuel costs for the electric bus could be up to 87% lower than for a comparable diesel vehicle, translating to savings of over $200,000 per vehicle.
The company also highlighted that the Impala E30 was designed specifically for the diverse terrains and climates of Africa, featuring marine-grade anti-corrosion materials, reinforced waterproofing, optimized suspension for varied road quality, and an advanced thermal battery management system.
Furthermore, each Impala E30 will be equipped with IZI Connect, a fleet management platform offering real-time vehicle monitoring, predictive maintenance alerts, driver behavior insights, and smart route optimization.
IZI Electric is strategically positioning the Impala E30 as a direct replacement for the widely used "Coaster" minibus, which serves as a backbone of public transport across the continent. The company estimates that replacing even half of Africa's existing diesel coaster fleet with the Impala E30 could lead to substantial fuel cost savings and a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
"If we replaced just half of Africa's existing diesel coaster fleet with the Impala E30, the continent would save over $1 billion in fuel costs every year and reduce carbon emissions by more than 2.7 million tonnes a year" Wilson noted. "The economic and environmental impact would be extraordinary."
The company also pointed to the increasing availability of renewable energy resources in several African countries, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, as a factor that further strengthens the economic and environmental case for electric vehicle adoption in the region.
Founded in 2023, IZI Electric aims to accelerate the adoption of affordable and sustainable electric vehicle solutions in Africa's transportation sector.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
