EV Daily Brief: US CAFE Reset, 750 kW Charging, and Kenya’s EV Assembly Pipeline

Edition date: 30 September 2026
Prepared: 30 September 2026, 08:10 EAT
Coverage window: Developments published or updated since the previous brief, prioritising 29–30 September 2026.

Short excerpt

The United States has published its final “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative, resetting corporate average fuel-economy standards and eliminating CAFE credit trading from model year 2028. EVgo has previewed a 750 kW charging architecture, while an Africa-focused white paper calls for open and interoperable charging systems. In Kenya, new reporting highlights 39,324 registered EVs in 2025, local assembly capacity at AVA, and an 188% rise in e-mobility electricity consumption during 2025.

At a glance

• Global: The US Department of Transportation says the final CAFE reset will target a fleet average of 34.9 mpg by model year 2031 and eliminate CAFE credit trading from model year 2028. 1
• Global: EVgo announced a next-generation charging system capable of up to 750 kW, with final design expected in 2027 and deployment plans beginning thereafter. 2
• Africa-wide: The Open Charge Alliance released a white paper on open and interoperable EV charging in emerging markets during Africa E-Mobility Week, addressing unreliable connectivity, grid constraints, mobile-money payments, and battery swapping. 3
• Kenya: CGTN reports that Kenya registered 39,324 EVs in 2025, while Associated Vehicle Assemblers’ EV line has an annual capacity of 8,000 vehicles but is operating at 27% of capacity. 4

Global

US publishes final CAFE reset and ends CAFE credit trading from 2028

The US Department of Transportation announced on 28 September that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had finalised the “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative, resetting Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2022–2031. 1

The department says the new standards will produce a fleet average of 34.9 miles per gallon by model year 2031, compared with 30.1 mpg for model year 2024. It says the initiative will reduce the average cost of a new vehicle by $1,300 and save consumers $138 billion over five years. Those savings are government estimates and are not independent economic findings. 1

The rule also changes vehicle-classification criteria from model year 2030 and eliminates the CAFE credit-trading programme from model year 2028. The department frames the policy as removing an “illegal EV mandate,” but the operative mechanism is a change to fleet-efficiency standards and compliance rules rather than a direct prohibition or requirement for consumers to buy EVs. 1

Why it matters: The rule reduces the regulatory pressure for US automakers to use EV sales and efficiency improvements to meet fleet averages. It may influence product mix, investment, pricing, and the pace of US battery and charging deployment. It also creates a larger policy divergence between the US and markets that continue to tighten emissions or efficiency requirements.

Status: Confirmed official US DOT announcement. The rule’s legal challenges, implementation details, and effects on automaker product plans remain to be monitored.

EVgo previews a 750 kW public-charging architecture

EVgo announced on 29 September that it is developing a next-generation charging system capable of delivering up to 750 kW. The company says design, development, and testing are being conducted at its Innovation Lab in California with Delta Electronics. 2

EVgo says the system will use NACS connectors, dynamic power sharing, and hardware and firmware intended to improve reliability and cable usability. The company expects the system to charge the fastest-charging vehicles in the US market in around 10 minutes, but it cautions that actual time will depend on the vehicle, battery condition, temperature, and starting state of charge. 2

The final charger design is expected to be unveiled in 2027, with EVgo beginning to deploy the architecture afterward. EVgo describes these timing and performance statements as forward-looking plans and estimates, not completed deployment results. 2

Why it matters: High-power charging is moving toward a grid-and-software problem as much as a charger-hardware problem. Dynamic power sharing can allocate available electricity between vehicles, while future networks will need storage, grid upgrades, and careful demand management to avoid large peaks.

Africa-wide

Open Charge Alliance releases interoperability white paper for emerging markets

The Open Charge Alliance announced on 29 September that it had released Open and Interoperable Electric Vehicle Charging in Emerging Markets during Africa E-Mobility Week 2026. The organisation says the white paper was developed with support from UNEP and GIZ. 3

The paper examines how the Open Charge Point Protocol can support charging infrastructure in markets where connectivity is intermittent, electricity grids are less reliable, and operators may need mobile-money payments, battery swapping, and cost-effective charging models. It includes a Kenya case study. 3

The announcement followed a session on harmonised charging standards across Africa involving representatives from UNEP, the African Organisation for Standardisation, Rwanda’s regulator, and the Southern African Development Community. 3

Why it matters: Interoperability can prevent charging networks from becoming isolated systems that work only with one operator, payment platform, or vehicle ecosystem. For African markets, the practical test will be whether open standards function under intermittent connectivity, limited grid capacity, different payment systems, and mixed charging and swapping models.

Status: Confirmed publication of an industry white paper. The document is guidance and analysis, not a new law or binding regional standard.

No new major Africa-wide market or investment result verified

No additional, independently verified Africa-wide EV sales result, major investment agreement, new vehicle launch, or government decision published in the latest window was confirmed beyond the interoperability white paper. Africa E-Mobility Week remains a source of potential announcements, but event discussions and promotional material should not be treated as signed commitments without supporting documents.

Kenya

EV registrations and local assembly are increasing, but AVA remains below capacity

CGTN Africa reported on 30 September that Kenya registered 39,324 electric vehicles in 2025, compared with about 1,400 in 2022, citing government figures. The report follows an EV from imported components arriving through the Port of Mombasa to assembly and testing at Associated Vehicle Assemblers in Mombasa. 4

AVA assembles several Chinese EV models, including Joylong, Henrey, Golden Dragon, and King Long. The company’s EV line has annual capacity of 8,000 vehicles but was operating at 27% of that capacity when the report was produced. The article also describes Kenyan technicians receiving training in high-voltage systems, software integration, testing, calibration, and quality systems. 4

CGTN further reported that Kenya Power recorded an 188% increase in electricity consumption by the e-mobility sector in 2025. The report presents this as evidence of rising charging demand, while also highlighting high vehicle acquisition costs and continuing concerns about charger availability and road-use requirements. 4

Why it matters: The report provides a more concrete view of Kenya’s EV transition than general policy announcements: vehicles are entering through the port, being assembled locally, and creating technical-skills demand. The low utilisation rate at AVA also shows that assembly capacity alone does not guarantee production scale; demand, financing, supply chains, and charging availability remain constraints.

Caveat: The registration, capacity, utilisation, and electricity-growth figures are reported by CGTN from government or company information. They should be cross-checked against official registration, Kenya Power, and AVA data before being used as a formal market series.

Technology and trend tracker

Trend	Latest signal	Interpretation
Efficiency-policy divergence	US DOT’s final CAFE reset targets 34.9 mpg by model year 2031 and removes credit trading from 2028. 1	US automakers face less regulatory pressure to expand EV volumes, potentially widening policy divergence with other markets.
Ultra-high-power charging	EVgo is developing a 750 kW system with dynamic power sharing; deployment is planned after final design in 2027. 2	Faster charging requires vehicle compatibility, thermal management, grid capacity, and software-controlled power allocation.
Open charging standards	The Open Charge Alliance’s white paper addresses OCPP, intermittent connectivity, mobile money, grid reliability, and battery swapping. 3	Standards that work in emerging-market conditions may reduce fragmentation and improve charger utilisation.
Kenya local assembly	AVA’s EV line has 8,000-vehicle annual capacity and was reportedly operating at 27%. 4	Local assembly can build skills and reduce import friction, but demand and utilisation determine whether capacity becomes viable.
Kenya charging demand	Kenya Power reportedly recorded 188% e-mobility electricity-consumption growth in 2025. 4	Rapid demand growth increases the importance of tariff clarity, grid planning, and reliable charging sites.

Vehicle and product launches

• EVgo next-generation charger: A planned 750 kW public-charging architecture with NACS connectors and dynamic power sharing; final design and deployment remain future milestones. 2
• Kenya assembled EVs: AVA is assembling Joylong, Henrey, Golden Dragon, and King Long models in Mombasa. This is an assembly and industrial-capability development rather than a new model launch. 4
• No other major new vehicle launch verified: No reliable passenger-car, truck, or two-wheeler launch distinct from previous-brief coverage was verified in the latest window.

Policy, investment, and infrastructure watch

• United States: Monitor legal challenges and automaker responses to the final CAFE reset, especially the removal of CAFE credit trading from model year 2028. 1
• Charging infrastructure: EVgo’s planned 750 kW architecture illustrates the next US charging-power tier, but its rollout is not yet complete. 2
• Africa standards: Monitor whether the Open Charge Alliance, UNEP, GIZ, ARSO, RURA, SADC, and national agencies translate interoperability guidance into procurement rules or regional standards. 3
• Kenya assembly: Watch AVA’s production utilisation, model mix, local-content development, and supply of high-voltage technical skills. 4
• Kenya charging demand: Watch for official Kenya Power and EPRA data and guidance on tariffs, connections, and high-use depot charging.

What this means for Kenya

Kenya’s EV story is moving from import and adoption statistics toward industrial execution. The AVA report suggests local assembly is already creating technical capability, but a 27% utilisation rate indicates that production capacity is ahead of current throughput.