Ethiopia is accelerating its transition to electric mobility, with the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) announcing new standardized charging rates for electric vehicles (EVs). Despite approximately 140,000 EVs already entering the country, the current charging infrastructure remains insufficient to meet the growing demand.
EEU CEO Engineer Getu Geremew highlighted the urgency of the situation during the inauguration of a new charging station in the Salite Mihret area of Addis Ababa. He emphasized that the shift to electric vehicles is critical for Ethiopia’s green energy policy, noting that reliance on imported fuel for internal combustion engines places a significant burden on the country's foreign currency reserves and contributes to environmental pollution.
To address the infrastructure gap, the government is currently executing a $10 million project to construct 40 fast-charging stations, with 32 located in Addis Ababa and 8 in regional cities. The newly inaugurated station alone cost 170 million Birr. Looking ahead, the EEU has set an ambitious ten-year plan to build 2,300 fast-charging stations nationwide, with 1,176 of these designated for the capital.
As part of the new regulatory framework, the EEU has introduced a time-of-use electricity tariff for EV charging: - Off-peak (10:00 PM to 6:00 AM): 14.85 Birr per kWh - Mid-peak (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM): 16.57 Birr per kWh - Peak demand (5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM): 18.28 Birr per kWh
The Ministry of Transport and Logistics noted that while there are currently between 150 and 200 charging points across the country—mostly installed by private importers, hotels, and entertainment venues—there is a critical need for high-capacity, standardized public stations. The Ministry has urged regional administrations and city mayors to prioritize land allocation for investors looking to build charging infrastructure, suggesting that land should be provided either for free or at highly subsidized, long-term rates to overcome one of the sector's primary bottlenecks.
Source: Telegram / tikvahethiopia