NADDC inaugurates solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in UNN

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has inaugurated a 100 per cent Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

The pilot project was an initiative under its EV development project as incorporated in the new 2023 National Automotive Industry Development Plan.

Vice-Chancellor UNN, Charles said the project was commendable and a landmark achievement. Igwe, a professor, said: “I am delighted that UNN is among the universities chosen to be part of the NADDC EV Pilot programme. The University will always support and be the first on EV development in Nigeria”. 

He charged relevant authorities in the university to be more practical-oriented and fully key into the Vehicle Electrification programme of NADDC for the benefit of the university and humanity in general.

Igwe stressed the need to bridge the gap between energy production and productivity by building Solar Energy farms as renewable sources of energy generation in Nigeria.

NADDC director-general, Jelani Aliyu, noted that, the station at UNN was one of the three EV pilot programmes of the NADDC.

Jelani, represented by the director, Industrial Infrastructure Department of the council, Nua Omisanya, said it was aimed at developing research work in the area of vehicle electrification through human capital development.

“In furtherance to the council’s bid to promote the research, design and adoption of EVs, NADDC had developed three 15KVA Solar-powered EV charging Stations at three Federal Institutions.

“The institutions are the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), he said.

The NADDC DG urged the universities to utilise the opportunity by stimulating further research and development of EVs in Nigeria.

Charging stations at UDUS and UNILAG had already been inaugurated for the same purpose.

“With the emergence of new automotive technologies, the global automotive industry is in a race of technological advancement, and the Nigerian Automotive Industry cannot be left out, but must be at the forefront of the race.

“In the same vein, I urge the general public to embrace Electric Vehicles as a greener and alternative means of transportation in Nigeria,” he said.

The university team led by the vice-chancellor thereafter test-drove the Hyundai Kona EV car deployed by the NADDC as part of the project.

Other dignitaries at the event were the fean, faculty of engineering, UNN and chairperson NADDC-UNN Centre for Electric Vehicle Research and Development, Ozoemena Ani, a professor.

Deputy director in charge of NADDC Zonal Offices, Susan Bisong-Taiwo, and NADDC South-east zonal coordinator, Edith Oleribe, were also in attendance at the event.

MIKE OCHONMA