EV Explorer – commitment to conservation
The EV Explorer team comprises five bosom friends who pioneered the first ‘made in Kenya’ electric vehicle (dubbed the EV Explorer) in 2025 and enrolled it in the 2025 Rhino Charge motorsport competition. As the first ever EV vehicle in the Rhino Charge motorsport competition, the vehicle performed well reaching 5 of the 13 the mandatory checkpoints. So far, it is the only EV participating in the competition. “We started participating in the 10-hours Rhino Charge in 2002 using a powerful four-wheel 5.8 liters V8 jeep and it served us well for over 10 years until we realized its exhaustion and the need for a new vehicle,” explained Mr Richard Kiplangat, the EV Explorer team leader. Mr Kiplangat spoke on May 16th, 2026 at a Karen field just next to Ngong forest during an event that tested the enduring versatility of the EV Explorer to the Rhino Charge demands. This is the second test involving the EV Explorer Car no 29 and which aims at improving its performance since its manufacture in the Lang’ata area of Nairobi.
“Our search for a new vehicle culminated in the manufacture of the EV Explorer made in collaborative efforts between various partners including our team, the Silicon Valley Group and mechanical & mechatronics engineers among others,” Mr Kiplangat expounded. According to him, participation in the 2025 Rhino Charge provided useful lessons that have helped in improving the vehicle in readiness for this year’s competition that takes place at a location in Samburu County on May 30th, 2026.
Inaugurated on Feb 4th 1989, the grueling motorsport competition is conducted in two days with Day 1 involving mandatory vehicles inspection, competitor’s registration and ‘scrutineering’. Competition proper is on Day 2 in a grueling 10-hour, 13-checkpoints off-road race across 100 Km2 of rough, secret terrain.
EV Explorer’s stability: “This vehicle is very stable with wide wheels base that boost stability especially in hilly sections that force inclination of vehicles. The wide wheels prevent tilting of the vehicle in such sections given that the Rhino Charge is replete with hilly sections. This vehicle weighs 3000 kgs (3 tonnes) inclusive of the electric batteries 900kgs weight and it thus requires a very stable braking system as well; it is however fitted with normal brakes,” expounded Mr Kiplangat. According to him, the 900kgs batteries’ weight enhances the vehicle stability in motion. He explains that the vehicle has 2 gear systems namely 4 high gears for use in flat areas and 4 low gears for climbing hilly sections. Fitted with a normal automatic gear, the EV Explorer has a Lexus EV engine fitted with electric and transmission equipment and has two peddles– one for acceleration and the other for braking.
The EV Explorer can move at a speed of up to 150 km/per hour though the Rhino Charge is fundamentally not about speed but endurance and completion. From the 2025 competition, the team realized that the engine had too much power (Torque) which jammed and broke teeth in the transfer/transmission box. “From our analysis of 2025 performance, we’re now adequately prepared for the R. Charge this year. We’ve acquired a new heavy duty transfer box and improved the gears ratio and throttle to make it more sensitive to the pedals actions. We’ve improved wiring for better electrical action,” assured Mr Kiplangat. The vehicle is fitted with world renowned Kings Shock absorbers for the best articulation. “During drive and its movement, we prefer that all the wheels touch the ground for better traction and mobility,” he added.
“We’re very proud of this vehicle and we believe it inspires other people and Kenyans especially as we share information on environmental conservation and climate change challenges. We’re also keen to promote the no-emission agenda in the country given the increasing climate change challenges globally,” Mr Kiplangat observed
“We’re also committed to inspiring young engineers who can work to improve this vehicle. Indeed, we’re soon launching a female engineers’ scholarship program for two who shall indeed be involved in improving this vehicle as they pursue their studies,” affirmed Mr Kiplangat.
The EV Explorer team is thankful for the Rhino Charge endeavor seeing that it annually raises funds for conservation (including fencing) of water towers in the country. “We’re grateful and happy with all our local sponsors, part of industry and even international partners. We greatly appreciate and acknowledge Safaricom PLC for great sponsorship. Since our debut in the R. Charge in 2002, Safaricom has always sponsored us; we received K sh 800,000 in 2025 and we’re receiving sh 1 million this year to help in preparation for the Rhino Charge,” Mr Kiplangat appreciated. According to him more funds are still needed for fencing of more water towers in the country not only to protect the towers but also to reduce and even stop human-wildlife conflict. The EV Explorer fund raising is still open for more sponsorship until May 30th this year.
As the first EV in the R. Charge, the EV Explorer generated lots of interest and attention both locally (including from the Belgian Embassy in Nairobi which has a huge solar power project that totally powers the embassy premises) and internationally. “We’re happy to have learnt a lot since our debut last year and we’re determined to keep learning,” affirmed Mr Kiplangat.
“This is always a great event for all of us in the team and we really enjoy it and especially having done this for a long time. We do this for good of the country and as friends we’re always delighted to find fun and adventure in an activity that benefits the whole country and communities where conservation is crucial and where human-wildlife conflict needs to be stopped,” he averred.
The Rhino Charge idea origin: Essentially, the Rhino Charge remains a unique, annual off-road 4×4 motorsport competition held in Kenya to raise funds for the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust. Unlike traditional races where speed is the goal, the winner of the Rhino Charge is the team that visits all 13 required control points in the shortest possible distance within a 10-hour period.
The Rhino Charge idea originated in Nairobi, Kenya, when Ken Kuhle, founder of the newly established Rhino Ark Charitable Trust, approached rally enthusiast Rob Coombes with a bold proposal: to organize an off-road motorsport event to raise funds for the conservation of Kenya’s rapidly declining black rhino population in the Aberdares ecosystem.
The initial concept was daring – an off-road competition to see which team could drive to the highest accessible altitude on Mount Kenya. Rob shared the idea with fellow off-roading enthusiast Brian Haworth, who eagerly joined forces to help make it a reality. However, early meetings with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) ruled out the hosting of such an event on Mount Kenya, a reality that forced a re-thinking of the idea.
Nevertheless, a few years earlier, Brian had explored routes around Mount Longonot for a proposed off-road rally, at the request of Derek Gates, organizer of the Safari Rally. Though that event never materialized, the experience sparked a new idea: a challenge based not on speed, but on distance covered- the shorter, the better. This unique twist would form the foundation of what became the Rhino Charge. {Ends}.
Motor sport for conservation
