The adoption of electric transportation models in Africa creates new avenues for low-cost travel, improving accessibility within and between cities and reducing emissions across the industry. Several countries are already advancing Electric Vehicle (EV) integration.
Nigeria
In Nigeria, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority has initiated an electric train service on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line to alleviate the city’s notorious traffic congestion.
The LRMT Blue Line aims to carry 175,000 to 200,000 passengers daily, with a potential to reach 500,000 daily users upon completion.
Additionally, Possible Electric Vehicle Solution, a Nigerian electric mobility company, is gearing up to establish EV assembly plants in Nigeria, projecting an annual production of 10,000 EVs, including minibuses, tricycles, pickups, and taxis. This development aligns with Africa’s growing EV sector, which is forecasted to reach a value of $21.4 billion by 2027.
South Africa
South Africa is making a strong play for the adoption and production of EVs. The country’s top online retailer, Takealot, has introduced a new fleet of electric trucks in collaboration with renewable energy company Aeversa and vehicle supplier Avis. The companies also revealed the largest DC fast charging station in the Western Cape, with a remarkable 240 kW capacity for 2023, setting a commercial vehicle industry precedent. The electric trucks, operational from October 2023, are part of Takealot’s sustainable e-commerce initiative in South Africa.
Meanwhile, two clean energy companies, Divaine Growth Solutions and Oando, are collaborating to launch an EV ecosystem in Cape Town. The pilot phase includes procuring electric buses with varying passenger capacities, installing charging stations, and supporting renewable power projects throughout Cape Town. The partnership aims to stimulate job opportunities in manufacturing and research, foster innovation, align with regional and global climate objectives, and enhance grid stability while strengthening the local EV industry.
Egypt
Egypt is spearheading North African EV efforts. Private auto manufacturer EgyptSat Auto, in partnership with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, plans to launch Egypt’s first locally produced EV by early 2024. The company also received a golden license to establish an EV factory that will produce electric passenger cars, buses, motorcycles, and charging stations, generating 500 jobs and fostering entrepreneurship in Egypt’s growing EV industry.
Additionally, Egypt’s Supreme Council for Vehicle Construction gave Shift EV and BluEV, two local electric mobility companies, the greenlight to convert over 100,000 internal combustion vehicles into electric drives. Shift EV aims to convert 100,000 vehicles in the next five years, focusing on pickups and minivans, while BluEV plans to convert two- and three-wheelers, offering battery leasing and a network of battery swap stations. These projects support Egypt’s shift toward EVs, driven by government initiatives and international partnerships.
Kenya
Kenya Power, the nation’s primary electricity distributor, is on a four-year mission to convert its 2,000 gasoline and diesel vehicles to electric models, in line with East Africa’s growing adoption of EVs fueled by abundant renewable energy resources. The company’s strategy involves retrofitting existing vehicles and procuring new EVs, capitalizing on robust electricity generation capacity and facilitating off-peak EV charging.
In addition to Kenya Power, private enterprises like Kenya-based start-up Roam; Kenyan-Swedish start-up Opibus; and Kenyan e-mobility company BasiGo are actively advancing EV developments in the country, with BasiGo securing $6.6 million for local electric bus production and aiming to deliver 15 buses in 2023.
Rwanda
In East Africa, Rwanda is witnessing the emergence of a start-up ecosystem focused on EVs, particularly electric two-wheelers, with over 20 start-ups raising more than $25 million in investments by the end of 2021. In October 2019, Volkswagen commenced electric car production in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, while Siemens plans to install 15 charging stations in the capital. This followed Ampersand, a Rwandan company, introducing electric bicycles equipped with batteries boasting a 75-km range.
Uganda
Uganda’s Kiira Motors Corporation, a state-owned facility, has demonstrated its commitment to electric mobility by creating two battery-powered cars and a solar-powered bus: dubbed the Kayoola Electric Vehicle Series. Developed through internal green mobility technology at Kiira Motors in collaboration with Chinese Equipment Manufacturer Motor Co. Ltd., the electric bus can carry up to 90 passengers and has a range of nearly 300 km, outperforming diesel-powered buses.