Ethiopia leads Africa's 'sustainable race' with electric cars

In Ethiopia , one of Africa's leading promoters of green transport and the first country in the world to ban the import of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles , more than 100,000 drivers have made the leap to electric cars.

“I was tired of waiting in line to fill up,” explains Kemeriya Mehammed Abduraheman, a 36-year-old consultant who has avoided long lines at gas stations since she started charging the electric vehicle she bought four months ago at her home in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Like her, many Ethiopians opted for an electric car over a year ago.

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Ethiopia, facing a trade deficit, exacerbated especially by the cost of hydrocarbons, took a radical decision in early 2024: it banned the import of combustion engine vehicles.

This move is in line with the environmental activism that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed likes to highlight, as the Ethiopian government has committed to planting billions of trees.

These numbers place Africa's second most populous country, with 135 million inhabitants, at the forefront of the continent.

According to figures from the International Energy Agency, in 2024 the market share of electric vehicles “remained low” in Africa, at around 1%.

Kemeriya Mehammed Abduraheman had to shell out around $34,000 (183,000 reais) to buy a model from the Chinese brand BYD, a considerable amount in a country where almost 38% of the population lives on less than $3 a day, according to the World Bank.

Purchasing this vehicle is a "long-term" decision for her. "I've saved on costs and time, since I don't have to wait in line for gas and spend half a day waiting to get it," she celebrates.

Refueling is a challenge in this capital of about 4 million people, where lines can be hundreds of meters long. The landlocked country, which depends on the port of Djibouti for its imports, frequently faces fuel shortages.

While Kemeriya Mehammed Abduraheman used to spend about $27 (146 reais) a month on fuel, now his bill to charge his electric car is just $4 (21 reais), he says.

In Addis Ababa, these cars, mostly Chinese, can now be seen on every street corner. Occasionally, you'll spot a Tesla Cybertruck, which sells for over $100,000 (540,000 reais).

The buses that run through the city are also powered by electricity.

Charging stations have also multiplied in the capital, and "many consumers have taken the initiative to install chargers in their homes and workplaces," he explains.

But this rapid shift isn't without its obstacles. Shortages of spare parts and mechanics trained in electric vehicles have been reported.

Furthermore, there are still not enough charging stations. "More than 2,300 would be needed. However, we currently have no more than 100, and only in Addis," acknowledges Minister Bareo Hassen Bareo.

This means that drivers cannot plan very long trips outside the capital.

Near Addis Ababa International Airport, national operator Ethio Telecom has set up several charging stations, where dozens of people are waiting, including Semagn Getnet, a private transport driver.

Ethiopia frequently faces power outages. The inauguration on Tuesday of a mega-dam on the Nile, touted as the largest in Africa, should double the country's electrical capacity. It should also facilitate the transition to green mobility.

However, the main obstacle for many potential buyers of these vehicles remains price. Ethiopian authorities hope to overcome this by attracting foreign manufacturers to produce locally.