Road to Addis Day 7

Cruising the Highlands - Dilla to Adama

Day 7 began with the team leaving Dilla after successfully charging the vehicles overnight at EEU distribution box next to our hotel. As the convoy set off, the rising population density and expanding landscape signaled a shift, as every kilometer forward brought us closer to Addis, and closer to the heart of Ethiopia’s electric mobility transition.

Driving the Highlands: Where Torque Meets Terrain

The terrain opened up into vast rolling hills and wide valleys, a mix of gentle slopes and sudden climbs. The instant torque of the electric pickup transformed the journey. Climbing no longer meant strain, it became smooth and silent acceleration redefining road experience.

Throughout the route, drone stops captured sweeping shots of Ethiopia’s dramatic topography. The road was alive with human activity. People hanged out at the tarmac edge, markets spilled into the lanes, children waved, and donkey carts moved alongside EVs, creating a powerful visual contrast of traditional mobility alongside new possibility.

Hawassa: A Glimpse of Ethiopia’s EV Readiness

Hawassa served as a key charging stop. The regional EEU director personally welcomed us, having arranged charging at the back of their HQ. What could have been a technical stop became a cultural exchange over lunch, featuring shiro, injera, fresh fish from the lake, and raw goat meat, a local delicacy that surprised many of us.

For the first time, the team observed multiple BYD Dolphin EVs gliding through the city, marking a clear difference from the rural segments of the journey. Electric mobility became more visible, active, and accepted as we drove closer to our destination.

Shashamene, Escorts, and Ethiopia’s Expressway Vision

After charging, the convoy continued toward Adama, passing through Shashamene, a busy urban hub teeming with three-wheelers and mule-drawn carts, a truly hybrid mobility ecosystem.

Navigating this human-centered traffic required patience, awareness, and sensitivity.

Before reaching Adama, an Ethiopian police escort joined the convoy, clearing the way and signaling official recognition of the Road to Addis mission.

The day reached a visual and symbolic peak as the team entered the Adama Expressway, a 90 km stretch of modern infrastructure. Wide, disciplined, and built for future flows of transport, it hinted at Ethiopia’s ambition to shape mobility.