By KPC Sports Reporter
A Kenyan team sponsored by Kenya Breweries through its White Cap brand is seeking to make history at this year’s Rhino Charge by fielding a fully electric off-road competition vehicle built locally for one of the country’s most demanding motorsport events.
The team, EV Explorers, led by Timothy Kabiru, will compete in the 2026 Rhino Charge in Samburu County this Saturday using a re-engineered electric vehicle designed to advance sustainable mobility while showcasing Kenya’s growing engineering and innovation capacity.
Also Read
Kabiru said the team’s association with the Rhino Charge dates back to the late 1990s when members first attended the event as spectators.
“We fell in love with the event immediately. Beyond conservation, the Rhino Charge gives you a chance to experience Kenya in its rawest form. It takes you across different parts of the country and creates a real appreciation for our environment and landscapes,” he said.
Following that experience, the group formed a team and began competing with a Jeep J8 powered by a 6-litre V8 engine. Over nearly 10 years, the team completed the Rhino Charge five times, recording a best finish of fifth place.
After stepping away from competition, the team began exploring how to return in a manner that aligned more closely with the conservation principles promoted by the event.
“Three years ago, we challenged ourselves not just to compete again, but to rethink how we compete. If the event is about conservation, then how do we participate while conserving at the same time? That is what inspired the idea of building a fully electric vehicle,” Kabiru explained.
The EV Explorers made their competitive debut with the electric vehicle last year and successfully reached six checkpoints before mechanical failures ended their campaign.
“The car performed exceptionally well, but we underestimated the amount of torque produced by the electric drivetrain. We broke the transfer box and lost four-wheel drive, which meant we could not continue,” he said.
Since then, the team has undertaken extensive upgrades to improve reliability and performance, including installing a heavy-duty transfer box, reinforcing the drivetrain and prop shafts, recalibrating throttle response, and introducing additional safety and performance enhancements.
Kabiru said the team is optimistic the modifications will improve its chances this year.
“There are still many unknowns because nobody has really competed with a fully electric vehicle in the Rhino Charge before, but we are learning every day and we are hopeful that this year we can complete the event,” he said.
The project has also secured support from corporate partners, including White Cap, which is sponsoring the team’s participation.
Kabiru said the partnership is rooted in shared values around conservation, sustainability and local innovation.
“The EV Explorers and White Cap share many of the same values. We are both passionate about protecting Kenya’s natural beauty and creating sustainable solutions locally. Support from corporate partners is critical because events like the Rhino Charge require enormous resources, and partnerships help drive awareness around both conservation and innovation,” he noted.
Beyond the competition, the team says it hopes the project will stimulate broader discussions on electric mobility and Kenya’s manufacturing potential.
“We are proud that this is a 100 percent Kenyan-built vehicle. We hope it can inspire young people, encourage innovation around electric mobility, and maybe even help spark an industry around converting combustion vehicles into electric vehicles or eventually building our own Kenyan electric vehicles for everyday use,” Kabiru added.
The 2026 Rhino Charge will be held in Samburu County on May 30 and will bring together competitors, conservationists and adventure enthusiasts to support environmental conservation initiatives spearheaded by the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust.
