EVs at a charging station in Uganda, internet photo
Do you love electric vehicles? Maybe not. Maybe you think they aren’t good for Africa or the continent. The story about transport in Africa has sounded the same for years: electric vehicles are too expensive, electricity grids are too unreliable, and petrol and diesel cars will dominate for decades.
A new study published in Nature Energy tells a very different story.
After analysing costs and emissions across 52 African countries, the researchers found that electric vehicles charged with their own solar power systems are likely to become both cheaper and cleaner than petrol or diesel vehicles well before 2040, and in many places by around 2030.
As the authors put it, “Battery electric vehicles with solar off-grid chargers will have lower costs and negative greenhouse gas abatement costs well before 2040 in most countries and segments.”
What makes this finding striking is how it turns a perceived weakness into a strength. Many African countries struggle with unreliable electricity grids, making large-scale EV charging seem unrealistic.
Instead of assuming grid-based charging, the researchers modelled electric vehicles powered by small, dedicated solar systems–panels and batteries sized to meet daily driving needs. These off-grid systems turned out to be surprisingly affordable and added only a small amount to the overall cost of owning an electric vehicle.
In fact, once installed, solar charging provides extremely cheap electricity. That means fuel savings quickly add up, while drivers are insulated from volatile petrol prices.
According to the study, “Charging using solar off grid systems adds minimally to the total cost of BEV-SOG ownership while also circumventing the need for expensive grid upgrades.”
In plain terms: electric vehicles don’t need a perfect power grid to work in Africa.
The environmental benefits are just as clear. Even when emissions from manufacturing vehicles and batteries are included, solar-charged electric vehicles produce far less pollution over their lifetime than fossil-fuel cars. By 2040, switching to these vehicles would actually save money while cutting emissions–a rare case where the greener option is also the cheaper one.
The researchers conclude that “Reducing emissions from passenger road vehicles in Africa is both economically viable and cost saving, well before 2040.”
So if electric vehicles are cheaper in the long run and cleaner for the climate, why aren’t they already widespread?
The biggest obstacle is not technology or charging–it’s money. Electric vehicles usually cost more upfront, and in many African countries, high interest rates and perceived investment risk make financing expensive.
The study shows that financing costs alone can sometimes exceed the original price of the vehicle. Under a scenario where buyers could pay cash or access affordable loans, electric vehicles would already be competitive in much of the continent.
The researchers also examined synthetic fuels, often promoted as a way to decarbonise existing petrol and diesel engines. Their conclusion was blunt: even under optimistic assumptions, synthetic fuels remain too expensive and too polluting to compete with solar-charged electric vehicles. The authors argue that these fuels make more sense for sectors like aviation, not everyday transport.
Smaller vehicles–especially motorbikes and compact cars–are expected to make the switch first, reflecting trends already visible in parts of East and West Africa. Larger vehicles and minibuses take longer, but they too are projected to tip in favour of electric well before 2040.
The takeaway is simple. Africa does not need to wait for perfect grids or distant technological breakthroughs. With abundant sunshine and the right financial support, electric vehicles powered by the sun could soon become the most practical, affordable way for millions of people to get around.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Africa has officially lifted Mpox as a public health emergency of continental security following recommendations from the Africa CDC emergency consultative group,” Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General Africa CDC.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Climate change’s growing toll on mental health in Africa: Climate change is quietly harming mental health across Africa, but research on the issue remains limited, according to a new scoping review. The study links floods, droughts, heatwaves, and rising sea levels to higher levels of anxiety, stress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in several countries. Reviewing 16 studies published between 2015 and 2024, the authors found that children, young people, women, farmers, climate migrants, and rural communities are most affected.
Flooding caused long-lasting trauma among children in Namibia and Nigeria, while droughts led to distress and hopelessness among farmers in East and West Africa. The review also highlights rising climate anxiety among young Africans and calls for more research and culturally appropriate mental health support. [Reference, Annals of Global Health]
Why care matters as much as climate for children: Drought is taking a toll on children’s health in South Africa, but climate alone does not tell the full story. A new study finds that in drought-prone provinces such as the Northern Cape, Western Cape, and Free State, babies are more likely to be born underweight and young children face higher risks of severe malnutrition.
Yet the research shows that social conditions are even more decisive. Orphaned children are far more vulnerable than others, largely because they lack consistent parental care and access to food, clean water, sanitation, and nearby clinics. The findings suggest that protecting children during drought requires not only climate resilience, but stronger family support and basic services. [Reference, Scientific Reports]
Climate didn’t shape early humans alone: A new study challenges the idea that climate change alone drove early human innovation in southern Africa. Looking back more than 60,000 years, researchers found that shifts in rainfall and vegetation influenced where people lived, but social factors mattered just as much. During stable, resource-rich periods, larger groups formed, allowing ideas and technologies to spread.
In more unstable times, people adapted by moving more and maintaining long-distance connections, sparking new tool-making traditions. The research shows that early human creativity emerged from a mix of environmental pressures and strong social networks–not climate change by itself. [Reference, Communication, Earth and Environment]