African fuel vehicle bans: Who's next?

• Ghana will hold elections next month, and the presidential aspirants want to cosy up to the electorate. The current vice president, who is a presidential candidate, has promised to electrify public transport.

• The government plans to have 100 electric buses by the end of 2024 and yesterday received the first batch as a show of commitment.

• Our take: Few African countries seem ready to ban importation of fuel vehicles... Read more (2 min)

Bus operators in Africa embrace EVs

• BasiGo has been operating since 2020 in Kenya and expanded in 2023 to Rwanda. It has supplied 30 electric buses to the Kenyan market to date, primarily to bus operators.

• Last month, BasiGo raised $42 million in debt and equity, which it plans to use to expand its production. It aims to deploy 50 buses by the end of 2024, followed by 200 more in the next year.

• Our take: The economics of e-buses favour bus operators... Read more (2 min)

We rank West Africa’s shift from fuel to EVs

• Our rankings highlight Nigeria as the clear frontrunner, with Togo and Benin trailing behind in second place. Ghana and Senegal share the third position, while Ivory Coast rounds out the group.

• The methodology remains the same as for East Africa, focusing on three categories: fundraising, talent, and consumer cost. While there are many other factors that impact EV progress—such as government policies and charging infrastructure—our metrics indirectly reflect these dynamics.

• Our take: Togo and Benin’s success demonstrates how smaller countries can still perform well with focused efforts...  Read more (2 min)

• SA’s new EV entrants in 2025: Chinese OEMs Omoda, Jaecoo, and BYD have unveiled their plans to launch new vehicle models in South Africa in 2025, including hybrids, EVs, and plug-in hybrids. Omoda will introduce the C7, C9 PHEV, and Jaecoo’s J5, J6, J7 PHEV, and J8, while BYD expands its range with the Sealion 6 PHEV and the Shark pickup truck. With the South African government promoting EV adoption and Chinese automakers leveraging close bilateral ties, these launches signal a significant shift towards sustainable mobility in the local market. (TimesLive, CarMag)

• Advocacy of EVs and CNG vehicles in Nigeria: On World Sustainable Transport Day, Nigeria's push for sustainable mobility gained attention as stakeholders emphasised increased investment and infrastructure development. While EV adoption is growing with initiatives to overcome the challenges of high costs and limited infrastructure, the country is advocating for compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel. The government is targeting the conversion of one million vehicles by 2026, supported by a $200 million investment. (CNBC Africa)

• Green freight corridors coming to Africa: At COP29 in Baku, global policymakers strengthened efforts to electrify road transport in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), including Africa, by doubling access to technical support through the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council (ZEVTC). A major highlight was the launch of the Global Green Road Corridors Initiative, which will establish at least 10 zero-emission freight corridors globally, including Africa, by 2026, addressing the continent's growing demand for EV infrastructure. (Global Fleet)

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