Ethio Telecom unveils ultra-fast charging station

From the newsletter

Ethiopia’s State-owned telecommunications company Ethio Telecom has unveiled an ultra-fast electric vehicle charging station in the capital Addis Ababa. The station, named TeleEV, has been installed on both sides of the Bole - Megenagna Road, and can charge up to 32 EVs at a go. It has three EV charging modalities. 

• The station is equipped with 8 ultra-fast chargers, each having a charging capacity of up to 600 kW – the fastest in Africa. It also has 12 super-fast chargers with a capacity of up to 500 kW along with level two smart pole chargers for emergency charging.

• Depending on their capacity, cars can be charged within 15 minutes at the charging station which will operate 24/7.

More details

• An ultra-fast electric vehicle charger is a high-power charging system designed to recharge EV batteries at significantly faster rates compared to standard or even fast chargers. These chargers typically deliver power of more than 150 kW, allowing compatible vehicles to gain a full charge between 10-20 minutes.

• Ethio Telecom charges motorists 10 Ethiopian Birr ($0.079) per kWh. This is the cheapest rate on the continent. In comparison, using a fast charger costs an average of $0.4 per kWh in South Africa and $0.45 in Kenya.

• The launch of the new charging station in Addis comes at a time when the number of EVs in Ethiopia is growing steadily. There are more than 100,000 EVs in the country, according to the US International Trade Administration. This number however mostly consists of two-wheelers.

• The size of the EV market is projected to grow rapidly, given the country’s recent policy shift. Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban the import of non-electric vehicles in January 2024. The ban was put in place to reduce the country's reliance on fuel and pollution. 

• Corporate entities including State companies such as Ethio Telecom are promoting EVs in various ways. The telco has incorporated electric cars as part of its marketing campaigns where it hands out EVs through raffles. In September 2024, it awarded two BYD smart electric cars to two customers as part of a promotion.

• Oil marketer TotalEnergies Ethiopia has also started integrating charging points at its gas stations.

• Despite Ethiopia’s EV growth trajectory, major challenges remain, particularly the lack of sufficient charging stations. In January 2025, the Petroleum & Energy Authority introduced a new directive standardizing technical and safety requirements for EV infrastructure. 

Our take

• Ethio Telecom has 7,861 base stations across the country. Its competitor, Safaricom Ethiopia, has more than 2,240 base stations spread out across Ethiopia. To function, base stations are either connected to the grid or use generators for power supply. Further, some telcos in Africa are installing solar PV systems in their stations. Combined, it’s a vast network that offers great potential for establishment of EV charging stations especially in remote areas. 

• Electricity access in Ethiopia is low; only about 55% of Ethiopians are connected to the national grid. This means that they have no luxury of AC chargers for EVs which are suitable for home and overnight charging where speed is not critical. However, this means that access to super-fast DC charging is critical. Ethiopia should increase investment in DC chargers, which are ideal for long-distance travel and quick top-ups at public charging stations. 

• Ethiopia’s total ban on non-electric vehicles was a resounding endorsement of EVs by the Horn of Africa country. However, further incentives should be introduced to fast-track the adoption of EVs and creation of charging stations. To be fair, the Ethiopian government is already considering non-financial and operational privileges for EV owners. These may include constructing public charging stations, provision of special license plate numbers, and further incentives to minimize the end users’ cost.