Ethiopia has unveiled an ambitious national strategy aimed at accelerating electric vehicle adoption, expanding charging infrastructure and developing domestic electric mobility industries as the country seeks to reduce fuel imports and strengthen low-emission transport systems.
The National E-Mobility Strategy and Implementation Plan for 2025-2030 was launched in Addis Ababa on Monday by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy and the World Resources Institute.
The plan outlines six priority areas including regulatory reform, electric vehicle market development, public transport electrification, charging infrastructure deployment, fleet transition and technical skills development.
Under the strategy, Ethiopia plans to deploy more than 2,200 charging centres nationwide by 2030, including 1,176 in Addis Ababa and 1,054 across regional areas.
Authorities also intend to install one charging station every 50 kilometres along major highways and establish fast-charging stations every 120 kilometres for heavy-duty vehicles such as buses and trucks.
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The government said the rollout would be supported through tax incentives, public financing measures and backing from the Development Bank of Ethiopia.
Officials say the initiative forms part of broader efforts to reduce Ethiopia’s dependence on imported fossil fuels while increasing the use of domestically generated electricity in the transport sector.
According to government data, Ethiopia spent around US$4 billion on fuel imports in 2023, placing significant pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
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The country is positioning electric mobility as a strategic response to both economic and environmental challenges, particularly as more than 90 percent of Ethiopia’s electricity generation comes from renewable sources, mainly hydropower.
Authorities say transport electrification could help lower urban pollution, reduce fuel import costs and stimulate local industrial activity linked to vehicle assembly and battery production.
The government projects electric vehicle adoption could rise from around 7,000 vehicles in 2023 to approximately 115,000 by the end of 2026 under the strategy.
The plan also includes measures to encourage local EV assembly, battery ecosystem development, industrial park expansion and exploration of lithium and sodium-ion mineral resources linked to battery supply chains.
Ethiopia’s programme comes as African countries increasingly move to electrify transport systems amid rising fuel costs, rapid urbanisation and global decarbonisation efforts.
In April, the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Transport and Energy endorsed a Continental Framework on Electric Vehicles in Africa developed jointly by the African Union Commission, the ECA and the United Nations Environment Programme.
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Ethiopia’s strategy is among the first national implementation plans aligned with the continental framework.
Countries including South Africa, Kenya and Rwanda have also introduced policies supporting electric buses, vehicle assembly and charging infrastructure.
The International Energy Agency estimates global electric vehicle sales exceeded 17 million units in 2024, with China remaining the dominant player in battery manufacturing and EV supply chains.
Analysts say Ethiopia’s renewable energy capacity could provide a comparative advantage in transport electrification if infrastructure deployment and financing challenges are effectively managed.
The strategy also integrates EV charging systems into building standards, highway development and fuel station networks as authorities prepare for rising demand across freight and urban transport systems.
Officials say successful implementation will depend on sustained investment, private sector participation and the development of local technical expertise capable of supporting long-term growth in the electric mobility sector.
