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E-commerce boom turbocharges EV sales
Dear subscriber,
Online shopping has become a phenomenon in Africa in recent years as shoppers choose convenience. But as last-mile delivery companies rack up more mileage, cost cutting is becoming rampant, and EVs are rising to the occasion.
Brian Ambani - Editor
 | Egyptian e-commerce company VOO has partnered with Blu EV, one of Egypt’s leading electric vehicle companies, for the provision of electric motorcycles for deliveries. The two companies began a pilot in March using seven motorcycles and gradually expanded. This has since then been increased to 140 motorcycles that have covered more than 250,000 km. |
E-commerce in Africa is estimated to be growing at about 14% annually. E-commerce companies are switching to EVs, mainly light duty vehicles like bicycles, motorcycles and tricycles, for deliveries to cut costs.
Supermarket chains have also been trialing heavy-duty EVs. High prices and limited charging stations means that unlike swap-ready light duty EVs, these vehicles are yet to become economically viable.
Our take: Commercial customers will remain the biggest drivers of EV sales in Africa … Read more (2 min)
 | Chinese car manufacturer Dongfeng has introduced the Dongfeng Box E1 330 in South Africa, priced from R 459,000 ($26,600). It is the country’s third cheapest electric car and one of four Dongfeng Box variants that the company is introducing in the market. The BYD Dolphin Surf ($19,700) and Dayun S5 ($23,100) are the cheapest electric cars in South Africa. |
In early 2023, the only EV selling for less than R 1 million ($58,000) was the Mini Cooper SE which cost R 723,000 ($41,900). Now, there are numerous electric cars that sell for less than half that.
New energy vehicle sales more than doubled in South Africa in 2024. The arrival of lower-cost models is boosting sales, a trend expected to continue.
Our take:The high price parity between fuel vehicles and EVs means financing innovation will be key for mass-market adoption… Read more (2 min)
 | Africa’s corporate fleets have a major opportunity to accelerate e-mobility adoption, including in Kenya where institutions like Kenya Power operate over 2,000 vehicles. According to Warren Ondanje, the Managing Director of the Africa E-Mobility Alliance, these organisations regularly purchase new vehicles, making them major possible buyers of EVs. |
Mr Ondanje is an experienced electric mobility professional who has spent five years at AfEMA. He is an engineer and previously managed operations at ARC Ride in Kenya.
African road transport carries over 80% of goods and 93% of passengers. Corporate and institutional fleets move a large share of this traffic, says Mr Ondanje. These fleets create a major market and opportunity for EVs.
Spiro’s head of ESG Imtinen Hamlaoui showcases the company’s ESG impact at an event in Nairobi (Source: Spiro)
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Jackson Wambua, a manager at Kenya Association of Manufacturers, says, “Given that e-mobility currently consumes just 0.01% of electricity, even modest uptake of electric boda bodas, buses, and delivery fleets would significantly increase this share without straining existing generation capacity.”