Ethiopia’s government decided to phase out gasoline vehicles in response to rising fuel prices, but as months passed, the validity of this decision continued to be debated.
Ethiopia became the first country in East Africa to ban the importation of gasoline vehicles. This decision, made in January, reduced the country’s expenses while also initiating a transition to electric vehicles. Subsequently, they raised the price of all fuels by 8% to further support these initiatives.
Now, more than 100,000 electric vehicles are being imported each month, with a target of increasing that number to 500,000 by 2030.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that the Grand Renaissance Dam will start generating over 5,000 megawatts of electricity within a year. This electricity generation could economically ease the country’s transition to electric vehicle usage.
However, many people in Addis Ababa, a city with more than 5 million residents, view the goal with skepticism. The number of service centers capable of repairing electric vehicles is quite limited, which means customers struggle to access services and often face exorbitant prices.
Many newly acquired electric vehicles are waiting in garages and parking lots for parts expected to arrive from China.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport, Bareo Hassen Bareo, believes this transition could serve as a model for other African countries. This project is seen as a bold move to overcome dependence on gasoline imports.
There are about 1.2 million vehicles in Ethiopia, and only a small fraction of them are electric. Many Ethiopians have started to give up on electric vehicles and are reverting to gasoline-powered cars.
