Nigeria pushes electric vehicle adoption amid power shortages

Nigeria is attempting to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption through new government incentives, including tax waivers and the elimination of import duties. In the first half of this year, the government approved tax waivers for nearly 4,000 electric vehicles as part of a program to promote cleaner transport and local assembly.

The nation’s 2022 Energy Transition Plan aims for EVs to constitute 60% of the vehicle fleet by 2050. Currently, EVs are estimated to make up less than 1% of the total vehicle fleet in the country. While the removal of petrol subsidies in 2023 has increased interest in electric motorcycles, cars, and buses, the transition faces significant infrastructure hurdles.

Nigeria’s power sector struggles to meet demand, with a 4,000-megawatt grid serving over 200 million people. This chronic electricity shortage forces charging stations, dealerships, and battery-swapping operators to rely heavily on diesel and petrol generators to maintain operations.