Rolling Into Addis: A Convoy of Hope and Electric Momentum – Adama to Addis Ababa
Africa’s E-Mobility Moment: From Policy to Movement
For years, the idea of electric mobility in Africa was framed as a distant aspiration, a vision often imported from other regions. But as this year’s Africa E-Mobility Week 2025 unfolded in Addis Ababa, it re-inforced that the continent’s transition is a process that’s alive, progressing with an undeniable potential.
A Continental Shift in Motion
Across the continent, from Nairobi to Kigali, Lagos to Addis Ababa, the conversation has moved from “if” to “how”. Africa’s mobility story is shaped with a undeniable imminent future where energy independence, industrialisation, and local innovation intersect.
Ethiopia, the host nation, embodies this shift. With a grid powered primarily by renewable sources, it demonstrates how clean energy and clean transport can move in tandem. Its electric buses now glide through city streets that once echoed with diesel engines, a symbol of policy meeting possibility.
“Ethiopia is a flagship not only for Africa but for the world,” noted Hitem Parmar, Executive Director of The Electric Mission, reflecting on how the nation’s energy transition has become a model for others.
Building Beyond Fleets
The discussions during AEW2025 revealed that the e-mobility revolution is about rethinking how Africans move, connect, and create value. Governments are drafting national roadmaps, startups are building assembly lines, and universities are adapting curricula for the mechanics of the future. The African Union’s Continental E-Mobility Framework, now in advanced stages, signals a recognition as a collective journey.
The momentum is also undeniably entrepreneurial. Local innovators are experimenting with battery-swapping networks, solar-powered charging hubs, and conversion kits that extend the life of existing vehicles. The ingenuity is unmistakably homegrown all across the continent.
A People-Centered Transition
Perhaps the most critical lesson is that technology alone will not drive this transformation. As UNEP’s Annika Berlin reminded us, success depends on access and equity: “It’s not only about changing the fleet, but also ensuring better facilities for people who don’t have access to electric vehicles.”
The future of mobility in Africa is also inclusive. It must speak to the boda-boda rider in Kisumu, the delivery driver in Johannesburg, the commuter in Addis. For them, affordability, reliability, and access matter more than the badge on the vehicle.
Africa Is Already Electric
In every sense, Africa’s e-mobility transition has begun, with new assembly plants and component manufacturers coming online. Startups are moving from pilot to production. Governments are investing in charging corridors that will connect major cities. Africa is shaping its electric future on its own terms.
The Road Ahead
Africa E-Mobility Week 2025 was a mirror held up to a movement in motion. The debates, showcases, and interviews captured a continent at a crossroads between ambition and action.
