Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime, has announced a decisive shift towards sustainability by permitting only electric vehicles, effectively banning gasoline and diesel cars.
Minister Sime unveiled the comprehensive Logistics Master Plan, outlining a strategic roadmap for the implementation of “Green Transport” across the nation.
The government is set to enforce the prohibition rigorously, including conducting smoke tests on existing fossil-powered vehicles.
Ethiopia’s commitment extends beyond policy, with plans to establish a nationwide electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The government has been proactive, granting tax exemptions related to electric vehicles since 2022.
This ambitious decision is propelled by multiple factors, including the substantial €6 billion ($7.6 billion) spent on petrol and diesel imports in 2023 and rising pollution levels in city centers.
It also aligns with Ethiopia’s Ten Years Development Plan (2021-2030), aiming to have 152,800 electric vehicles on the roads by 2030.
Currently, out of 1.2 million total cars in Ethiopia, approximately 7,200 are electric.
However, key questions remain unanswered, such as the effective date of the prohibition and its potential impact on fossil-powered vehicles already in transit.
Moreover, concerns about the affordability of electric vehicles and the limited percentage of the population able to purchase them are crucial aspects that need to be addressed in this transformative transition.
