Ethiopia has become the first country to ban imports of petrol and diesel cars, embracing an electric vehicle (EV) revolution despite persistent power cuts and limited electricity access. The move, driven by economic necessity and green ambitions, has seen roughly 115,000 EVs now on its roads, with a target of 500,000 by 2030.
For drivers like architect Deghareg Bekele, the switch has brought relief from long queues at petrol stations caused by chronic fuel shortages. 'Having an EV saves me lots of time. I have no regrets,' he says. Taxi driver Firew Tilahun reports his monthly fuel costs have dropped from 20,000 Ethiopian birr (£105) to under 3,000 birr (£16) since switching to a Chinese EV.
The main driver for the ban is economic: Ethiopia spends about $4.5bn (£3.3bn) annually on fuel imports, straining scarce foreign currency. Cheap hydropower from the new Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which doubles electricity output, offers a green alternative. However, only 20% of households have reliable electricity, and power cuts remain common.
To boost uptake, the government offers sweeping tax exemptions on EVs, though prices remain high—a BYD model costs around 2.2m birr (£11,000) in a country where doctors earn £60 a month. Charging infrastructure is limited, with just over 100 stations nationwide, almost all in Addis Ababa, making long-distance travel impractical.
State minister for transport Bareo Hassen says the policy aims to reduce pollution and create local jobs through assembly plants, like one producing Chinese minibuses. 'Our focus shouldn't just be on importation,' he notes. Despite challenges, many drivers are satisfied, with Firew adding: 'I have no plan to change back.'
