Skip to content
East African nations are quickly establishing themselves as some of the most ambitious in the world when it comes to transport electrification.
In a world-first, Ethiopia banned imports of combustion-powered vehicles in January 2024 as it sought to slash its hefty fuel import bill and curb emissions. By July 2024, there were more than 30,000 electric vehicles on the country’s roads, and the government thinks that number will climb to above 150,000 by 2032.
The state is smoothing the way by offering generous tax exemptions on EVs, encouraging local assembly, and using public procurement to stimulate demand — the city of Addis Ababa bought 110 electric buses in 2022.
While neighbouring countries haven’t gone as far as banning imports of petrol- and diesel-powered cars, a similar story is underway thanks to supportive government policies, strong investor interest, and rising consumer demand.
In Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, officials have stopped approving petrol-powered motorcycle taxis, and say they’ll only register electric models from now on as part of a broader plan to improve air quality and clean up the transport sector. The national government also provides tax exemptions for hybrid and electric vehicles and their spare parts.
To facilitate the transition, the region is ramping up investments in charging infrastructure.
“The uptake has been quite good,” says John Msingo, chief revenue officer at EVCharger, a Kenyan startup that’s installed 11 charging points in the country to date. “For example, with electric cars, at least four companies have come to set up shop in the last year. With more people coming to do it, they’ll see more benefits.”
The Kenyan government is chipping in too with plans to build 1,000 EV charging stations by 2027 in anticipation of growing demand.
Kenya’s EV sales surged to 4,193 units in December 2024, up from just 1,059 a year before, and electric buses are an increasingly common sight.
Ken Ouma, a Nairobi resident, says his commutes have improved since emission-free buses were introduced.
“I love traveling in these electric buses,” he says. “They’re clean and efficient, and the ride is superb. I hope even more buses will start serving all the routes in the city.”
Investors and startups are getting in on the action as well.
For instance, Piki, a food delivery service in Tanzania, uses electric mopeds driven by women and students. Meanwhile, assembly facilities and innovative financing solutions are emerging across the region.
In Uganda, Zembo offers pay-as-you-go electric two-wheelers to low-income motorcycle-taxi drivers. It also provides a battery-swapping service to its customers.
In Kenya, Roam designs and develops electric motorcycles and buses specifically for the African market, while EVM Africa assembles electric tractors and other types of vehicles.
“Investors are coming into the market,” Msingo said. “They see a gap.”
He added that the region’s policy frameworks are laying the foundation for “exponential” growth in electric mobility, citing Kenya’s draft e-mobility policy as an example. However, financing remains a challenge and there’s a need for even more creative financing models tailored to local needs.
