Interesting developments also in developing countries, especially in India. In Africa the first Egyptian and Ugandan start-ups.
The electric mobility revolution is advancing rapidly in industrialized countries, with some surprises also in other areas of the world. According to the latest estimates, in 2022, sales of electric vehicles exceeded the 10 million mark, with China, Europe and the USA continuing to dominate the market.
It is the beginning of a revolution destined to profoundly change the characteristics of transport, also considering the fact that in Europe, as in California, from 2035 it will no longer be possible to sell petrol or diesel cars. But it is interesting to analyse the first steps of the market in developing countries. Let’s consider India, where this solution also represents a response to the high levels of pollution.
Sales of electric four-wheelers last year amounted to 60,000. Then there are 4,000 electric buses in circulation (a drop compared to the 380,000 in China). But India’s real surprise comes from the 1.8 million electric tuk-tuks, a three-wheeled means of transporting passengers or goods, which is spreading rapidly, creating jobs and reducing city emissions. To encourage this form of electric transport, the Indian government has announced a reduction in their taxation.
In sub-Saharan Africa, more than two-thirds of daily trips in urban centres take place thanks to a mix of forms of transport formed by buses, minibuses, motorcycles and bicycles that have developed rapidly in an informal way. Often these vehicles are very old. In Nigeria, the average age of minibuses is 24 years. One of the consequences of the spread of these antiquated means of transport is the high level of pollution. Attempts to get innovative solutions off the ground in Africa are starting to spread.
Omega Seiki, an Indian electric vehicle manufacturer that is developing its line of commercial electric vehicles mainly distributed through e-commerce, has signed a partnership with the Egyptian logistics and distribution company Rabbit Express for the supply of 20,000 electric tuk-tuks. A Ugandan start-up intends to team up with another Indian company, Gayam Motor, to continue producing these means of transport. And experiences continue to spread with the idea of reconciling mobility needs and better air quality.
