Ethiopia Leads EV Revolution In Africa

Ethiopia Leads EV Revolution In Africa May 17, 2026 4 hours Steve Hanley 0 Comments Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe

What's Happening

EV sales in Africa are booming, spurred in part by higher prices for gasoline and diesel as a result of the US assault on Iran . But even before that disastrous military campaign, many African nations lacked the refineries needed to turn crude oil into fuels, and so had to import every drop of gasoline or diesel, which was expensive. You might think that high prices for gasoline and diesel would lead to more sales of electric cars and trucks, but the grid infrastructure in many parts of those countries rarely extends beyond the major cities. As a result, people living in rural areas have no ability to charge an EV even if they own one.

Why This Matters for EV Owners

• It’s the classic chicken or egg conundrum
• Two years ago, Ethiopia did something unprecedented
• It banned the importation of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines on the grounds that the nation was squandering money it didn’t have to import fuels for those vehicles
• It’s not like Ethiopia has a robust, fully functioning electrical grid

The Bigger Picture

Even in the capital, Addis Ababa, the supply of electricity is interrupted frequently every day. But the pain of scrounging for scarce gasoline is even worse. Architect Deghareg Bekele told The Guardian recently that he purchased an EV manufactured by Volkswagen. Initially, he had some doubts about his decision, but now, after four months of driving an EV, he said he is pleased with his purchase because he no longer has to endure the long lines at the petrol pump caused by Ethiopia’s chronic fuel shortages. “I’d have to wait two to three hours, even if I got there in the early morning, and they often run out of petrol before it’s your turn.

EV Comparison: How Do These Models Stack Up?

Among these models, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range leads in efficiency at 14.4 kWh/100km, while the Mercedes EQS 450+ offers the longest range at 770 km WLTP.

Model	Battery	WLTP Range	Efficiency
Tesla Model 3 Long Range	75 kWh	602 km	14.4 kWh/100km
Tesla Model Y Long Range	75 kWh	533 km	16.9 kWh/100km
BMW iX xDrive40	71 kWh	425 km	19.5 kWh/100km
Mercedes EQS 450+	108 kWh	770 km	15.7 kWh/100km
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro	77 kWh	520 km	16.3 kWh/100km

Data sourced from EVRoutes' vehicle database covering 60+ EV models. Ranges are WLTP-rated and real-world results may vary by 10-20% based on driving conditions.

What This Means for Your Wallet

Based on current European charging rates, DC fast charging costs between €0.30-0.65 per kWh depending on the network and country. This translates to roughly 40-60% savings compared to equivalent petrol costs. A typical fast-charging session takes 20-45 min (10-80% DC fast) — enough time for a coffee break on a long trip.

What to Watch Next

Having an EV saves me lots of time. ” Ethiopia Leads In EV Sales In Africa According to Yale Climate Connections , Ethiopia is now leading the transition to electric cars in Africa. It imported 44,358 electric vehicles from China in 2025 according to data from China’s Commerce Ministry. That’s more than double the 19,386 cars imported from China in 2024.