Driving Rwanda’s Green Future

Highlights from the Electric Mobility Forum

In recent years, Rwanda has emerged as a leader in the electric mobility (e-mobility) sector within East Africa, backed by supportive policies, infrastructure initiatives, and the dedication of various stakeholders. The recent Electric Mobility Forum Kigali, held on 23-24 October at Four Season Hotel, and co-organised by GIZ Rwanda and MININFRA, brought together key players from the government, private sector, academia, and development agencies to discuss Rwanda’s e-mobility progress and the next steps needed to ensure the sector’s sustainable growth. With over 70 participants, the forum highlighted Rwanda’s achievements, identified challenges, and provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, network, and develop collaborative solutions. Here’s a look at the event’s highlights and the insights shared.

Rwanda’s E-Mobility Landscape: Strong Foundations and Rapid Growth

Rwanda’s commitment to sustainable transportation is underpinned by ambitious policies designed to encourage e-mobility. The Government of Rwanda has introduced zero VAT on EV imports, exemptions on import and excise duties for EV parts, and an industrial tariff for EV charging, making the sector more accessible. Additionally, the government provides rent-free land for charging stations, further incentivising infrastructure development. These measures are aligned with Rwanda’s broader vision to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The impact of these policies is evident in the country’s EV statistics. From a mere 19 EVs (both hybrid and fully electric) in 2020, Rwanda now has 512 fully electric cars and 6,660 hybrids registered in 2024. Rwanda also boasts over 4,000 electric motorbikes operated by Ampersand and an additional 1,200 bikes from Spiro. Ampersand, for instance, operates 32 battery swap stations around Kigali and expects to manufacture 18,000 batteries for their fleet by 2025. The potential savings for drivers are notable, with those switching to electric increasing their take-home pay by 45%, equating to around $840 in annual savings on fuel and maintenance.

Many Ampersand and Spirodrivers report reinvesting these savings into paying school fees, improving housing conditions, and even pursuing small business opportunities, underscoring the positive social impact of e-mobility adoption.

Companies like IZI Electric and Basigo are also driving electric bus adoption, each aiming to expand their fleets to 100 buses in the coming years. Both recently secured funding from the Rwanda Green Fund, helping them advance toward these ambitious targets. Currently IZI Electric operates 7 e-buses, and Basigo has 6 in service, both companies setting a foundation for Rwanda’s cleaner public transport initiatives.

Companies like Kabisa and Meshpower play pivotal roles in expanding Rwanda’s EV charging networks. Kabisa aims to have 38 EV charging stations by the end of 2024, ensuring a station every 100 km across the country. Meshpower is collaborating with Kabisa to install high-standard stations and pilot solar-powered charging solutions, enhancing resilience and aligning with Rwanda’s carbon-neutral goals.

The forum also saw new private companies like eBee and eWaka showcase electric bicycles for both private and cargo transport. Through partnerships with companies like VubaVuba, they are exploring solutions that allow local businesses and delivery services to adopt sustainable transport for their operations.

EV Forum Goals: Networking, exchanging knowledge and discussing solutions

The forum set out to accomplish three core objectives:

1. Network and foster collaboration among EV sector stakeholders from various sectors.
2. Discuss challenges and develop solutions to accelerate EV adoption.
3. Enhance knowledge transfer through presentations, exhibitions, and interactive sessions.

Each stakeholder group — from regulatory bodies to private EV companies — recognised the value of open, collaborative dialogue. The forum served as an essential platform for strengthening Rwanda’s e-mobility ecosystem and ensuring that all players are aligned on common goals.

Challenges and Gaps in Rwanda’s E-Mobility Landscape

Despite Rwanda’s remarkable progress, forum discussions revealed several key challenges that must be addressed to achieve full-scale EV adoption. Some of these include:

• Policy Awareness and Access: A recurring theme was the need for a centralised platform to access EV-related policies. Many stakeholders are not fully aware of existing policies or struggle with policy implementation. Participants proposed creating a single online platform where stakeholders can access relevant policies, reports, and resources. Stakeholders also emphasised the need for regular forums that allow stakeholders from all sectors to contribute insights and feedback on existing policies, enhancing policy effectiveness and stakeholder engagement.
• Financial Barriers: Access to financing remains a significant hurdle, particularly for new EV startups. While BRD (Rwanda Development Bank) supports the sector through the Green Fund and favorable financing terms (12% interest, 12-year terms), generally banks require substantial collateral, posing challenges for startups. The forum emphasised the need for tailored financing solutions and technical assistance to make EVs more accessible. To address these challenges, participants suggested that BRD and the Central Bank of Rwanda work together to revise collateral requirements specifically for e-mobility ventures, potentially adopting guarantee schemes for higher accessibility.
• After-Sales Support and Infrastructure: The need for maintenance support, access to spare parts, and testing tools was highlighted. Currently, tax exemptions are not extended to these crucial areas, creating challenges for servicing and the sustainability of the sector.
• Lack of Skilled Workforce: Another key area identified was the shortage of skilled technicians and engineers trained in EV technology. Universities such as the University of Rwanda and Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU) are stepping up, with CMU introducing an “Electrical Systems for EV” course in its next semester. CMU also offered to lead a working group to address employment and capacity-building needs in the sector. The University of Rwanda’s second-life battery research program was also highlighted, focusing on strategies for reusing EV batteries and contributing to Rwanda’s circular economy goals in collaboration with private sector companies like Ampersand, Spiro, SLS Energy and Enviroserve.

Forum Highlights: Policy Sessions, Breakout Discussions, and Exhibitions

The two-day forum offered an array of activities, including policy discussions, breakout sessions, and a public exhibition at the Marriott Hotel where local e-mobility companies showcased their products. The exhibition was a vibrant platform for companies like Ampersand, Spiro, IZI Electric, Basigo, and new market entrants eWaka and eBee, to present emission-free mobility options and innovative solutions for cargo and personal transport. The exhibition also featured CFAO Mobility (Volkswagen), UTU Cars, KAS Auto, and Akagera Business Group, which focus on leasing and sales of pure electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as Safe Auto Garage, specialising in diagnostics, after-sales support, and maintenance for EVs and hybrids.

Breakout Sessions: These targeted discussions allowed stakeholders to delve deeper into key topics:

• Policy and Regulation: Stakeholders discussed policy awareness gaps and the need for a centralised policy platform. Harmonising overlapping policies was also proposed to enhance EV sector growth.
• Capacity Building: This session tackled Rwanda’s workforce limitations, recommending international partnerships to introduce EV-specific courses and hands-on training programme in collaboration with the private sector and organisations like TVET.
• Funding and Financing: The session addressed high collateral requirements and emphasised how tailored financing support from BRD and other agencies could accelerate sector growth.

Collaborative Spirit: Stakeholder Contributions and Future Directions

Representatives from government agencies, development partners, and the private sector shared valuable insights and highlighted planned initiatives. The City of Kigali announced its efforts to integrate bicycle and bus lanes into its masterplan, contributing to a more sustainable urban transport system. REG (Rwanda Energy Group) shared ambitious plans to expand the grid to meet the growing EV demand, while EPD (Energy Private Developers), the leading industry association, called for improved facilitation in setting up EV charging stations, currently more challenging than establishing petrol stations.

Development partners, including JICA, KOICA, and the EU, reaffirmed their support for Rwanda’s transport sector through training, funding schemes, and research studies. KOICA even donated two e-buses for the new Bugesera Airport, enhancing Rwanda’s green public transport.

Best Practices from Global Leaders

The forum featured a best practices presentation on successful EV models from China, Norway, and Morocco, offering Rwanda valuable insights. China’s incentive structures and mass production, Norway’s high EV targets and public awareness campaigns, and Morocco’s green energy integration into automobile manufacturing and international trade agreements were showcased as replicable models. Participants recommended revisiting Rwanda’s EV adoption targets to set more ambitious goals and extending tax incentives to include electric bicycles and EV maintenance parts to support the sector holistically.

Moving Forward: Practical Solutions and Commitment to Action

The forum ended on a high note with an open call to all stakeholders for actionable next steps. GIZ and other participants pledged to address key recommendations to further enhance EV adoption in Rwanda. However, forum participants also emphasised the importance of translating discussions into concrete actions.

Participants called for regular forums to keep up momentum and include voices from across the spectrum, including EV users, bus operators, and grassroots organisations. This collaborative spirit was echoed by the Director General of MININFRA opening speech, who highlighted the successes in EV adoption and the need for continued partnerships and collaboration to reach Rwanda’s carbon neutrality goals by 2050.

Conclusion: Rwanda’s Bright Future in Electric Mobility

The forum underscored Rwanda’s strong foundation in e-mobility, from supportive policies to active engagement across sectors. As more vehicles switch to electric power, the country’s transport emissions — currently 13% of total emissions, with buses accounting for 40% and motorcycles 26% — are expected to decrease significantly, contributing to a healthier environment and resilient economy.

With its clear goals, Rwanda is well-positioned to become a leader in e-mobility. The country’s vision is ambitious, and with sustained collaboration, Rwanda’s transport sector has the potential to set a benchmark for sustainable mobility in Africa.

The 23-24 October 2024 Electric Mobility Forum Kigali marks an important milestone on Rwanda’s journey to sustainable transport. The success of this event illustrates Rwanda’s commitment to advancing electric mobility, and the enthusiastic participation of all stakeholders signals a bright future. By embracing the ideas and partnerships formed at the forum, Rwanda is well on its way to realising its e-mobility ambitions.

The Smart Mobility Lab is a collaborative platform where industry leaders, academic institutions, and public organisations unite to drive innovation in Rwanda’s mobility sector. Through cutting-edge research, data-driven solutions, and hands-on experimentation, the lab aims to address critical challenges and unlock new opportunities for smarter, more sustainable transportation systems. GIZ’s contribution is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).