Uber to use EVs in South Africa

• Uber operates in 60 cities in Sub-Saharan Africa, including 21 in South Africa—its biggest market—and four cities each in Kenya and Nigeria.

• The company aims to have 10–15% of its vehicles globally to run on batteries by 2027. It targets 100% of rides and deliveries globally to be in zero-emission by 2040.

• Our take: There is a clear demand for ride-hailing services in Africa, and this is set to grow further with increasing urbanisation… Read more (2 min)

Behold the electrification of African ports

• This marks the first Kalmar electric reach-stacker in Africa and a big step towards the Egyptian port's goal of being net-zero by 2040.

• The electric reach-stacker can lift up to 45 tonnes and is available with a range of modular battery options and charging solutions.

• Our take: Electric material handling equipment is confined to limited operational premises, making it easy to establish charging infrastructure... Read more (2 min)

Here are events adjacent to the e-mobility sector

• Our event listing is mainly in the energy sector (11) with three solar-focused, finance (2), mining (2) and technology (1), and others (3) that are scheduled from this week through early April next year. 

• Events from other sectors are like slices of a large sustainability pie, complementing e-mobility events in their contribution to the broader picture. Yesterday, we featured a list of clean mobility events; in case you missed it, click here.

• Our take: Although not directly centred on EVs, these events provide valuable insights into the systems and resources driving Africa's electric mobility sector... Read more (2 min)

• Plans for e-buses in Lusaka: The Zambia E-Mobilize Project, spearheaded by the Zambian Electric Mobility Innovation Alliance (ZEMIA), has announced plans to deploy electric buses on three key routes in Lusaka: Great East Road-Chongwe, Great North Road-Kabanana, and Kafue-Chilanga. These routes were selected based on high passenger demand and minimal grid upgrade requirements. The initiative aims to reduce operational costs by over 50%, saving approximately $99 million annually, cutting fuel imports by 86 million litres per year, and decreasing urban emissions by 200,000 tCO2e annually. (ZEMIA)

• Struggling EV transition in Africa: In 2023, South Africa recorded a meagre 0.02% EV penetration rate, with just 2,795 EVs registered. Localised solutions through partnerships with established EV makers can work. The BYD and Ampersand partnership in Rwanda to produce 40,000 electric motorbikes by 2026 offers a practical path to accelerating EV adoption in the region. (Business Daily)

• Bypassing tariffs through bilateral agreements: Morocco’s proximity to European markets, reserves of key battery materials, and membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) position it as an attractive destination for Chinese EV companies seeking to bypass trade barriers and expand globally. Its free trade agreements with the US and EU further enhance its strategic value. (Morocco World News)

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