How electric pick-ups are helping conservation efforts in Kenya

By James Attwood

21 Oct 2022

A fleet of electric pick-up trucks have been put to action in Kenya to assist in efforts to help the Maasai community protect the landscape and wildlife in south-eastern regions of the African county.

American EV start-up Rivian has loaned a number of its massive US-market R1T pick-ups to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT). The organisation runs a range of programmes in Kenya to support the Maasai community, and the trucks are being used for a range of roles as part of that.

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The pilot project has begun with four R1T machines being used in the Chyulu hills in Kenya, with the MWCT using them for anti-poaching patrols, transporting Maasai firefighters, aiding ranger operations on- and off-road and supporting health and education programmes.

Rivian has also installed a charging system, with the trucks charged via a photovoltaic solar system. That means the trucks have minimal environmental impact, and they offer other benefits: the instant power that EVs offer is very useful for off-road running, vehicle-to-load output means that they can serve as a mobile power source, and the fact the machines make no engine noise helps on anti-poaching patrols.

The project is set to run indefinitely and will expand in the coming months, with Rivian providing a number of its R1S large SUVs to MWCT for other roles. The American firm’s engineers are in “constant” contact with the MWCT, and regularly visit to service and maintain the machines.

Luca Belpietro, the executive director of the MWCT, said: “Rivian's support of MWCT is already playing a significant role here in Kenya, helping us to carry out our work in conservation, education, health, and livelihoods initiatives.

“The R1T is the perfect vehicle for us -- with zero tailpipe emissions and essential features such as electric sockets in the vehicle so we’re able to plug our equipment directly into the vehicles without the need for an external power source.”

Rivian currently offers the R1T and R1S in the UK market, and is also producing an electric delivery van for Amazon. It recently agreed a tie-up to co-develop electric delivery trucks with Mercedes-Benz.

Swedish electric motorbike manufacturer Cake has also provided machines to support environmental efforts in Africa, providing a fleet of its off-road bikes to the Southern African Wildlife College for use on anti-poaching patrols in the south of the continent.