Electric vehicles offer a cleaner, more affordable alternative to fuel-powered cars—an increasingly vital option for Africa as urban populations grow and fuel costs rise.
- Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the highest adoption of electric vehicles.
- This ranking is courtesy of the International Energy Agency and official data.
- Countries such as Ghana, Morocco, and Tanzania lead in EV adoption in Africa
As urban populations grow and fuel prices continue to rise across Africa, electric vehicles not only help reduce harmful emissions but also present a cost-effective solution for long-term transportation.
With increasing investment, tax encouragement, and infrastructure improvement, electric vehicles are gaining ground in many African countries.
In West Africa, we look at two- and three-wheelers and electric buses in East Africa, where countries are searching for unique ways to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.
In some areas, EVS is becoming important to improve urban transport, cut air pollution, and reduce dependence on expensive imported fuel. In other cases, they are serving as a cost-effective solution for the dynamics of rural and inter-city areas.
EV policies on the rise
By early 2025, more than a dozen African countries will have implemented national electric vehicle (EV) policies aimed at accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation.
These policies typically include tax incentives for EV imports, reduced tariffs on batteries and components, investment in renewable energy infrastructure, and government-led pilot projects to integrate EVs into public transport systems.
Some countries are also introducing regulations to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles over time, while others are offering subsidies to local manufacturers to encourage domestic EV production.
For example, Kenya has launched an electric bus pilot in Nairobi, while Ethiopia and Benin are aggressively transitioning their motorcycle fleet to electric.
Similarly, South Africa and Morocco are positioning themselves as EV manufacturing hubs, not only to meet local demand but also to export to Europe and beyond.
Together, these measures signal a growing commitment to sustainable mobility, supported by private investors funding charging stations, battery swap networks, and local vehicle assembly.
Based on the latest data from the International Energy Agency, the top 10 African countries adopting electric vehicles are:
| Rank | Country | Estimated EV Stock | Notable Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghana | Approx. 17,000 | Duty waivers; high adoption of 2- & 3-wheelers. |
| 2 | Morocco | Approx. 10,000 | 400+ charging stations; strong EV export. |
| 3 | South Africa | Approx. 6,000 | 400+ public chargers; import duty removed. |
| 4 | Tanzania | Approx. 5,000 | Rapid growth in electric bikes and tuk-tuks. |
| 5 | Ethiopia | Approx. 5,000–7,000 | Hydropower-powered EVs; tax incentives. |
| 6 | Egypt | Approx. 3,500–4,000 | Local EV assembly plans; growing charging network. |
| 7 | Kenya | Approx. 3,753 | E-buses like BasiGo are aimed at achieving a % EV registration by 2025. |
| 8 | Benin | Over 3,000 | Electric motorcycles with lease-to-own models. |
| 9 | Rwanda | Approx. 1,182 | Zero VAT and registration fees; expanding charging infrastructure |
| 10 | Angola | Approx. 1,000 | Import tax cuts until 2032; 2,000 EVs imported in 2024. |
The top five African countries leading in electric vehicle adoption—Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, and Ethiopia—are making notable strides through a mix of policy incentives and infrastructure development.
Ghana leads with an estimated 17,000 EVs, driven by duty waivers and strong uptake of electric two- and three-wheelers.
Morocco follows with around 10,000 EVs and over 400 charging stations, supported by a robust EV export sector. South Africa, with about 6,000 EVs, has removed import duties and installed a comparable number of public chargers.
Tanzania’s estimated 5,000 EVs reflect a surge in electric bikes and tuk-tuks, while Ethiopia, with 5,000 to 7,000 EVs, is leveraging its hydropower resources and offering tax incentives to support the shift.
Fathia Olasupo
