The Company “Freestyle PLC” is launching Solaris Elettra, an electric car for Ethiopia. In fact, the production and sale of the two versions of Solaris Elettra (costing around $12,000 and $15,000) will take place in Addis Ababa. The cars will finally take off for Africa and Europe’s markets.

The question is if Africa with its electricity shortages, low level of wealth per capita and poor infrastructure endowment, is ready for the production and spread of electric cars.

According to the general manager of Freestyle PLC, Carlo Pironti, Ethiopia’s electricity shortages were not an obstacle, as in the future the power supply should strongly increase. Furthermore, the manager underlines that Solaris Elettra can be recharged by generator and solar power.
To face customers’ budgetary problems, Mr Pironti says that his company will develop a credit system for people unable to afford the cost of Solaris Elettra: indeed Ethiopian taxes on cars could be very high and average salaries are low.

Wayne Batty, senior writer at South Africa’s Topcar magazine, points out that by now electric cars may be reserved for short trips (40 to 50 km), since infrastructure and recharging points are still lacking across African countries.

Ethiopia is the second African country, after South Africa, involved in the production and promotion of an electric car. With the recent Rwanda’s launch of a bio-diesel bus, Africa is demonstrating a strong interest in cutting-edge technologies for sustainable mobility.

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• Electric car launched in Ethiopia despite electricity shortages (news.bbc.co.uk)

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