- Mobility Rising
- Posts
- When a state-owned teleco competes with charging startups
When a state-owned teleco competes with charging startups
 | Ethio Telecom, a phone company owned by the Ethiopian government, is taking on a bigger role in the country’s electric vehicles push. The firm has launched a new fast EV charging station in the capital Addis Ababa. The station builds on the success of its first charging facility launched in February 2025 which it says has already charged 14,280 EVs. |
With a population of more than 128 million, Ethiopia is one of Africa’s largest EV markets with more than 100,000 EVs in the country, according to the US International Trade Administration. This mainly consists of two-wheelers, but the number of electric cars and buses is also growing.
The size of the EV market is projected to grow rapidly, given the country’s recent policy shift. Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban the import of non-electric vehicles in January 2024. The ban was put in place to reduce pollution and the country's reliance on fuel.
Our take: Government-owned companies like Ethio Telecom should take an active role in building EV infrastructure in Africa by deploying their significant capital muscle, which startups often lack… Read more (2 min)
 | South Africa has amended its National Road Traffic Act to classify electric bicycles with speeds of over 45 km/h as motor vehicles as part of road safety measures. It means that the bicycles must be registered and licenced to be legally operated, as well as the rider. Electric bicycles are fitted with electric motors to assist with pedaling and acceleration. |
South Africa is the first country in Africa to introduce specific rules on electric bicycles. Other nations don't have specific laws for electric bicycles, treating them like traditional bicycles. However, as their adoption grows, more countries are likely to introduce regulations.
Demand for electric bicycles in South Africa is growing significantly. Urban congestion and advancements in battery technology are making them increasingly appealing to commuters, especially in urban areas such as Cape Town.
Our take: For electric bicycles to thrive in Africa, prices must first come down. Their cost remains prohibitively expensive across the continent, which means they are mainly treated as a luxury purchase... Read more (2 min)
Q&A: Could standardisation boost EV adoption?
 | Africa faces significant challenges in creating standards for electric vehicles, largely due to its reliance on imports from various markets. Each of these markets have their own set of standards, says Joseph Mashele in our interview. He’s a member of the African Organisation for Standardisation and a Regulations Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, UK. |
Africa does not need to start from scratch, and the smarter approach is to adopt global EV standards as a foundation and adapt them.
Adherence to international standards plays a crucial role in shaping local production efforts, as seen in South Africa’s export of plug-in hybrids. The need to meet these global benchmarks encourages higher quality and regulatory compliance, signaling progress in local capacity-building in Africa.
Events
🗓️ Explore the latest technologies at the Afrifueling Expo in Kenya (May 6)
🗓️ Register for the Electric Bus Deployment webinar (April 15)
🗓️ Book your place at the Annual CITL Africa Forum in Kigali (April 28)
Jobs
👨💻 Join GoMetro team as a Senior Front End Developer (South Africa)
👨💼 Lead the Marketing personnel at Kabisa (Kenya)
✍️ Become the next Grant Writer at Kabisa (Rwanda)
Various
🌐 Mohammed Al-Salafi joins Max as VP of Global Expansion
🤝 Powerhive partners with Telcoin to enhance investor confidence through blockchain
📖 Read an article on Exploring the Future of E-Mobility in Africa
Seen on LinkedIn
Valerie Labi, Co-founder of Wahu Mobility, says, “As a leader of a startup, learning how to leverage AI tools has broadened my ability to do so many things very quickly, saving money.”