Should governments regulate EV charging prices?

June 24, 2025

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Electric vehicle charging companies in South Africa collect up to three times the residential cost of electricity. In Kenya, they charge more than double the domestic power tariff. This trend is reflected in many African countries, raising questions over whether governments should now regulate charging prices in the same way they regulate fuel prices.    

  • The majority of African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Namibia regulate fuel prices, fending off price collusion by sellers. 

  • On the other hand, building out charging networks is expensive. If governments made it unprofitable, EV owners and drivers would be the losers as fewer charging stations would be built.

  • Our take: Keeping EV operating costs well below that of fuel vehicles is key for industry growth. Question is how… Read more (2 min)

US-based battery company 24M Technologies has developed a next-generation electrolyte that could enable future batteries to last 1,600 km on a single charge and add 300 km of range in under four minutes. Named Eternalyte, the electrolyte’s capability does not require a megawatt charging and significantly boosts battery performance in extreme temperatures. 

  • 24M’s new battery technology is the headline innovation in this month’s Tech Watch, a monthly recap of the top technological advancements in the global EV industry relevant to Africa. 

  • A battery that lasts longer eliminates range anxiety and significantly reduces the need for fast public charging stations. The lack of sufficient charge points is a major hurdle for EV adoption, especially in Africa.  

  • Our take: How African electric mobility companies can contribute to global EV innovation… Read more (2 min)

Africa’s EV transformation requires tailored, localised strategies. In this week’s exclusive opinion piece, Chiagoziem Ezechi, an independent EV consultant, argues that optimising the functionality of local assembly lines is key. Local production will reduce costs and allow manufacturers to flexibly cater to regional preferences, balancing BEVs and hybrids.  

  • Mr Ezechi highlights the importance of "micro-factories," which produce up to 10,000 units annually. These factories can reduce capital costs by up to 50% and lower maintenance expenses, as only individual components need repair, rather than the entire assembly line. 

  • Generative AI is already revolutionising EV development, enabling engineers to design prototypes optimised for cost, weight and performance, he adds. By 2028, half of all major manufacturers are expected to utilise this tech.

  • Read Mr Ezechi’s full opinion … here (4 min)

VW Ghana CEO Jeffrey Peprah delivers a speech during Ghana’s recent auto summit

Events

🗓️ Register for Shift to Zero Emissions in Public Transport webinar (July 2)

🗓️ Join Clean Mobility, Shared Solutions webinar (July 9)

🗓️ Prepare for EV Summit happening in South Africa (July 17)

Jobs

👨🏻‍💻 Apply for the Data Scientist Lead role at BasiGo (Kenya)

💼 Become an accountant at MAX (Nigeria)

👷🏻‍♀️ Lead Product Planning at Shift EV (Egypt)

Various 

📝 Tanzania E-Mobility Association presents the government with its EV Policy Framework

🏭 Mahindra to build an EV & CNG vehicle assembly plant in Tanzania in 2026

🚍 Zimbabwe welcomes its first electric bus from Golden Dragon

Seen on LinkedIn 

Paul Musasizi, CEO of Kiira Motors, says, “No industry has ever been successful by relying solely on its local market.”