Bringing Africa to the EV capital of the world
Africa’s electric mobility transition took centre stage in Oslo
Ethiopia Takes the Stage in Oslo as Africa’s EV Momentum Accelerates. At the Nordic EV Summit in Oslo, one of the strongest conversations about the future of mobility came from Africa.
As part of the Nordic-Africa EV Summit programme, Hosaena Samuel, co-founder and CEO of Eazy Power, joined Eng. Eric Ntangengerwa, Head of the Mobility Division at the African Union, on the main stage to discuss Ethiopia’s rapid electric mobility transition and the wider momentum building across the continent.
The timing of the discussion was significant. Only days earlier, the African Union approved its continental electric mobility framework, creating a coordinated roadmap to support EV adoption and ecosystem development across African member states.
For many in the audience, Ethiopia became one of the clearest examples of how quickly policy direction, infrastructure, and private sector momentum can begin aligning around electric mobility.
According to Samuel, the shift was driven by both economics and long-term energy strategy.
Ethiopia has historically spent approximately USD 4.5 billion annually on fuel imports, while simultaneously investing heavily in domestic renewable energy production. With the expansion of hydropower through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, alongside wind and solar projects, the country now generates the vast majority of its electricity domestically from renewable sources.
Electric mobility quickly became connected to a broader national conversation around energy independence, industrial growth, and infrastructure development. The transition itself was gradual and policy-driven. Taxes on internal combustion engine vehicles increased significantly, while electric vehicles received incentives and easier import structures. Financial institutions were also encouraged to support EV financing, particularly for taxi and ride-hailing drivers. At the same time, entrepreneurs began preparing for where the market was heading.
After observing the government’s direction in 2024, Samuel began researching charging technologies compatible with Ethiopia’s grid and identifying practical deployment models suited for the local environment. That process led to the creation of Eazy Power, one of the country’s first EV charging infrastructure companies.
The company initially imported a small number of pilot chargers to better understand customs procedures, permits, software integration, and operational realities on the ground. From there, partnerships were established with hotels and fuel station operators as the network slowly expanded. Today, Ethiopia has imported more than 140,000 electric vehicles, according to the discussion on stage. The conversation in Oslo also highlighted how Africa’s EV transition is developing through different regional strengths across the continent.
Eng. Eric Ntangengerwa explained how the African Union framework is designed to support collaboration between countries already advancing in different areas of the ecosystem. Ethiopia has moved strongly on policy and political commitment. South Africa continues building industrial and private sector capacity. Morocco is growing as a manufacturing hub. Kenya is advancing renewable-powered mobility and electric two-wheelers. Rwanda is pushing public transport electrification and supportive EV incentives.
The framework aims to help these experiences inform wider continental development. Ntangengerwa outlined three major drivers shaping Africa’s electric mobility transition. The first is energy resilience. Many African economies remain heavily exposed to imported fuel and global oil price shocks. Expanding mobility systems powered by domestic renewable energy offers countries greater long-term stability.
The second is urban development and public health. Rapid urbanisation across African cities is increasing pressure on transport systems and air quality, creating urgent demand for cleaner mobility solutions.
The third is industrial opportunity. With access to critical minerals, growing technical capacity, and one of the youngest populations in the world, Africa holds significant potential for manufacturing, assembly, battery ecosystems, and broader EV value chains. Throughout the discussion, one thing became increasingly clear: the continent’s electric mobility transition is closely tied to broader conversations around infrastructure, energy systems, logistics, industrialisation, and economic growth.
That wider perspective shaped much of the Nordic-Africa EV Summit in Oslo, where stakeholders from across Africa and the Nordics gathered to explore partnerships around charging infrastructure, renewable energy, financing, freight corridors, and mobility systems. The discussion also pointed toward what comes next.
As Ethiopia prepares to host COP32 in 2027, Addis Ababa is becoming an increasingly important meeting point for climate, infrastructure, and mobility discussions. Plans are already underway for the Nordic Africa EV Summit to continue in Addis Ababa later this year, alongside new cross-border initiatives demonstrating the viability of electric transport corridors between African countries. The conversations in Oslo reflected a continent moving quickly, building new partnerships, and shaping its own direction around the future of mobility.
