Africa’s opportunity in the EV battery supply chain

• Western and Eastern Africa are expected to account for more than 70% of the total battery demand by 2030.

• The two/three-wheeler fleet is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 7% between 2024 and 2030.

• Our take: Africa could potentially meet its EV battery demand, but not immediately… Read more (2 min)

Rwanda’s EVPlugin to construct 200 charging stations

• EVPlugin has been in operation since 2017 and has mainly focused on providing charging stations for electric motorcycles, not battery swapping. 

• The company will partner with the city of Kigali to build over 40 fast EV charging stations and is also collaborating with other companies to build a total of 200 stations.

• Our take: Partnering with petrol stations and government agencies can save costs… Read more (2 min)

Who in Africa is able to raise money for EVs?

• These seven men were educated in a variety of countries and continents. Some in Africa (Egypt and South Africa) and others in Europe and America.

• Their ages vary too. One built a startup straight out of university while another pursued a career for 14 years before creating his own venture. 

• Our take: To sell more vehicles to women, the industry needs female leaders… Read more (2 min)

• SA’s call to shift to EV manufacturing: South Africa’s automotive industry faces a critical warning as major car brands, like Toyota and Volkswagen, express concerns over the slow transition to new energy vehicles (NEVs). Recent export data shows a sharp 42.6% decline in 2024 compared to the previous year. The EU's stricter emissions regulations and competition from cheaper Chinese EVs have intensified pressure on South African exports. (Businesstech)

• Siemens Stiftung pilots e-mobility programs: Siemens Stiftung’s E-Mobility 4 Impact program is piloting sustainable mobility solutions in East and West Africa. The initiative will run till December 2025 and it includes four key projects: testing public e-bike sharing for Boda riders in Tanzania, introducing electric bicycles to smallholder farmers in Uganda, exploring local production of e-motorbike components in Nigeria, and promoting electric motorbikes for last-mile delivery in Ghana. (SiemensStiftung)

• Lafarge Africa to open a CNG plant: The construction company is set to commission a new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station at its Mfamosing Plant in Cross River State. Since 2017, Lafarge has integrated CNG trucks into its fleet, now making up over 35%, and launched its first Electric Vehicle Truck in 2023. The company has invested over $60 million in advancing its green mobility strategy and plans to expand. (Thisdaylive)