Solar, Swaps, & Startups: Africa’s Unique Path To Electric Transport - CleanTechnica

The article "Solar, Swaps, & Startups: Africa’s Unique Path To Electric Transport" highlights the distinct characteristics shaping the continent’s electric vehicle (EV) transition. Unlike regions with high car ownership, Africa has low vehicle ownership rates—averaging about 38 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2015—with motorcycles, scooters, and informal public transport dominating mobility, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. Motorcycles serve as critical taxi and delivery services (e.g., boda-bodas in East Africa and okadas in West Africa), while three-wheeled tuk-tuks and minibuses form the backbone of urban public transport. This vehicle mix means Africa’s electrification pathway will differ significantly from car-centric markets, focusing more on smaller, versatile electric two- and three-wheelers. Electric vehicle adoption faces several challenges, including uneven urban-centric vehicle access, weak power infrastructure, and limited policy support in many countries. While nations like Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, and