The short answer#
You can drive an electric car from Nairobi to Mombasa, about 480 km, but public charging on the road is thin and the trip needs planning. Chargers have been reported at Athi River, at Voi and in Mombasa. Between Athi River and Voi there are about 300 km with no public fast charger that we could find reported, so the car has to cover that leg on one charge. Confirm every stop with its operator before you leave: this page lists what has been reported, with dates, and we have not visited these sites.
Chargers reported along the route#
| Where | About how far from Nairobi | What was reported | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubis Sabaki, Athi River | 30 km | 100 kW DC, CCS2 and GB/T, open to any compatible vehicle, KES 48 per kWh indicated (BasiGo with Rubis) | July 2026 |
| Petrocity, Mavoko | 30 km | AC Type 2 and DC CCS2 | November 2025 |
| Green Park, Athi River | 35 km | AC Type 2 | November 2025 |
| Voi, on the A109 | 330 km | Kenya Power station open to the public; power and plug types not stated | May 2026 |
| City Mall Nyali, Mombasa | 480 km | AC Type 2 and Type 1 | November 2025 |
Distances are approximate road distances. The Voi report does not say whether the charger is AC or DC or what plugs it has, which decides whether a stop there takes half an hour or half a day. Call Kenya Power before relying on it.
Can your car do the long leg?#
The leg that matters is Athi River to Voi, about 300 km. At highway speeds an electric car uses more than it does in town; taking 18 kWh per 100 km as a working figure, 300 km needs about 54 kWh, and you want a margin on top.
| Usable battery | Athi River to Voi on one charge |
|---|---|
| About 40 kWh (for example a Nissan Leaf 40 kWh) | No. Not without a charge in between |
| About 60 kWh | Possible if you leave Athi River nearly full and drive steadily; little margin |
| 75 kWh or more | Yes, with a margin |
The 18 kWh per 100 km figure is an assumption for planning, not a measurement. Speed, load, air conditioning and the climb back from the coast all change it; the return trip uphill to Nairobi uses more than the trip down.
Planning the trip#
- Leave full. Charge to 100% at home, then top up at Athi River if you want the widest margin for the long leg.
- Confirm Voi. Find out the charger's power and plug, and whether it is working, before you set off.
- Carry your cables. A Type 2 cable for AC points, and the portable cable for a 13 A socket as a last resort at a lodge or hotel.
- Have a fallback. Lodges and hotels in Mtito Andei, Tsavo and Voi may let you charge overnight from a socket; ask ahead. A socket adds a few kilometres of range an hour, so this is an overnight stop, not a pause.
- Check your plug. DC chargers reported on this route are CCS2 and GB/T. An older Nissan Leaf uses CHAdeMO, which none of them lists. See AC and DC charging explained.
- In Mombasa, charge where you stay. The reported public point is AC, so plan to charge overnight.
Why the gap exists, and what would close it#
EPRA's siting guidance calls for a public station every 25 km on both sides of highways and fast charging at least every 100 km for long-range vehicles. The Nairobi to Mombasa road is far from that today. Fuel stations and roadside stops between Emali and Voi are where a fast charger would open the route to smaller cars. If you run such a site, see hosting an ARC Corridor station and how to start a charging station.
Other routes#
For public charging elsewhere, including Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu, see EV charging stations in Kenya and the Charging Hub. For how long each stop takes, see how long charging takes.