"But There Are No Charging Stations" — The Truth About Running Chinese EVs in Africa

Let’s get the elephant out of the room. Every buyer I talk to asks the same question: "Where are the charging stations?"

They expect me to lie and say, "Oh, there are thousands!" But the truth is, if you're importing BYD Song Plus, Chery Explorer 06, or Geely Xingyuan into most African markets, there are none.

Egypt has maybe 1,200 scattered across the whole country. Ethiopia has about 100. Nigeria? You can count them on one hand.

If you're waiting for the government to build chargers before you start selling cars, you'll be out of business before your first container clears Apapa port.

Here’s how the smart importers are actually doing it.

Stop Selling "Cars." Start Selling "Energy Solutions."

The biggest mistake new dealers make is treating EVs like petrol cars. With a Toyota, you buy it, and the fuel is someone else's problem. With an EV, the fuel (electricity) is your problem to solve for the customer.

If you don't solve the charging problem, you're just selling a very expensive brick.

The Three Ways It Actually Works in Africa

A. Home Wallbox Charging (The "Rich Uncle" Setup)

This works for private owners in Lagos, Nairobi, or Accra who live in gated estates or have private compounds.

l The Gear: A standard 7kW or 11kW AC wallbox.

l The Reality: Most homes in Africa have single-phase power, not three-phase. Don't oversell a 22kW charger unless you've checked the transformer capacity. I've seen guys install a 7kW box, plug it in, and the entire street's lights dim.

l The Cost: Expect to spend around $400–$800 for the unit + installation. It’s slow, but it works overnight.

B. Depot Charging (The Fleet Goldmine)

This is where the real money is. Forget selling to random individuals. Sell to ride-hailing companies (Uber/Bolt), security firms, or logistics fleets.

l The Logic: You control the location. You put 5–10 chargers in a secure yard.

l The Schedule: Cars charge from midnight to 5 AM during off-peak hours when the electricity is cheapest and most stable.

l The Win: For a BYD Song Pro or Chery Omoda 5 running 300km a day, the "fuel" cost drops by 80% compared to petrol. That's the only number your fleet client cares about.

C. Solar + Storage (The "Off-Grid" Flex)

This sounds sexy, but it's not for everyone.

l The Pitch: "Drive for free using the sun!"

l The Catch: Batteries are expensive. To charge a BYD Seagull or a bigger SUV, you need a serious solar array and a lithium storage bank.

l Who It's For: High-end villas, eco-lodges, or corporate campuses trying to hit ESG targets. It’s a marketing tool as much as a functional one.

The "Generator" Question (And Why You Should Say No)

Inevitably, a client will ask: "Can I charge it with my diesel generator?"

Technically? Yes. Practically? Please don't.

l Charging a Geely Xingyuan or a Chery Tiggo 7 Pro from a small generator will take 12+ hours.

l It puts massive strain on the alternator.

l The voltage fluctuation is terrible for the onboard charger (OBC).

l My advice: Tell them to use the generator only for emergencies, not daily charging.

Which of Your Models Handle This Best?

Not all EVs are equal when the grid is shaky.

The Accessories You MUST Ship With the Car

If you want to avoid 90% of your after-sales headaches, include these in the trunk:

1. A portable 10A/13A "Granny Cable": So they can plug into a normal wall socket if the wallbox fails.

2. Spare fuses: Specifically for the onboard charger circuit.

3. A printed "Do Not Use Generator" sticker: Stick it on the charge port flap.

Public charging is a future problem. Your job today is to sell the private solution.

If you're selling a BYD Song Plus to a logistics company in Kenya, don't sell them a car. Sell them a package: 1 Car + 2 Wallboxes + Installation Support.

That’s how you win. You’re not a car dealer, you’re an energy partner.

Need help designing a depot charging layout for your next shipment? Contact us right now and let us help you.