Faced with an estimated energy bill of nearly 4 billion dollars per year for importing fossil fuels, Ethiopia is accelerating its transition toward green mobility. On May 25, 2026, the government launched its national electric mobility strategy for 2025–2030, aiming to put more than 500,000 electric vehicles into circulation by 2030 and significantly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, relying on electricity generated almost entirely from renewable sources.
On May 25, 2026, Ethiopia launched its National Electric Mobility Strategy 2025–2030 to sustainably modernize its transport sector through the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles. According to the Minister of Transport, Alemu Sime, the initiative aims to build a modern transport system that is less dependent on fossil fuels. The country plans to put more than 500,000 electric vehicles into circulation and ensure that 95% of imported vehicles are electric.
“Currently, we approved our National Electric Vehicles Implementation Strategy from 2025 to 2030, which is really aligned with the North African Agenda and also the Vienna Convention.”
Bareo Hassen, State Minister of Transport and Logistics – Ethiopia
Alemu Sime, Minister of Transport and Logistics of Ethiopia, emphasized that the objective is to create a modern and integrated transport system, stressing the need for Ethiopia to reduce its dependence on imported fuels while strengthening its national energy security. Indeed, Ethiopia spends nearly 4 billion dollars every year on importing fossil fuels.
“We need to tackle environmental challenges with our practice, like planting seedlings and also introducing e-mobility or green mobility, green transport. Transport by itself emanates a high volume of carbon dioxide to the environment and also it has its own negative impact to harm our environment. ”
Bareo Hassen, State Minister of Transport and Logistics – Ethiopia
Ethiopia has an installed capacity of 9,752 megawatts (MW), generated almost 100% from clean energy sources, with around 96% coming exclusively from hydroelectric power. By combining this unique electricity mix with the deployment of 500,000 electric vehicles by 2030, the Ethiopian government aims to achieve its national carbon neutrality (net zero emissions) target by 2050.
