In Accra, Ghana, the roads are mostly dominated by internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, most of which consume petrol or diesel.
But in past years, fuel prices have increased, making transportation for commuters more expensive.
In January 2020, the average fuel price in Ghana was GHC 5.50 per litre. Currently, prices are averaging GHC 12 per litre at fuel stations.
Over the years, car owners have been importing electric vehicles (EVs) as an alternative to ICE cars.
According to Ghana’s Revenue Authority, over 17,000 EVs were imported between 2017 and 2021.
On the streets, it has become commonplace to see EVs on the roads. One of the common brands you might encounter is Tesla. But more and more Chinese EVs are starting to come into the fold.
BYD vehicles are becoming one of the most popular EV brands.
Globally, Tesla dominates, but Build Your Dreams (BYD), the popular Chinese EV maker, has been giving Tesla a run for its money.
In 2024, BYD car sales (including EVs and Hybrids) reached 4.3 million.
BYD is Slowly Building and Expanding in Africa
BYD has been making strategic moves and investments in the African region. The company has already established a presence in some African countries, including Rwanda, Egypt, and Mauritius.
In June 2024, BYD signed an MOU with Ampersand, an EV bike maker, to sell its battery technology to the company.
In September 2024, BYD partnered with a Zambian firm to sell its car models in the country. The company is also working with EV bus maker Basi Go in Kenya
BYD has also held talks with the South African government for more investments in the country.
| Country | Estimated Number of EVs (2024–2025) |
|---|---|
| Ghana | 17,000 |
| Morocco | 10,000 |
| South Africa | 6,000 (2024), 5,114 (2024), 8,642 (2025 projected) |
| Tanzania | 5,000 |
| Ethiopia | 5,000–7,000 |
| Kenya | ~3,753 |
| Benin | 3,000+ |
| Rwanda | ~1,182 |
| Angola | ~1,000 (2,000 imported in 2024) |
EV Charging Still Has a Way to Go
Although there is growing interest in EVs in Africa, the challenges of EV charging infrastructure still exist.
Although there is a lot of interest in EVs, countries like Ghana have about 4-5 public charging stations for EVs.
Ethiopia has about 10 public charging stations, even though they hope to increase their number of EVs has grown to about 100,000
If EVs need to grow and get adopted in Africa, charging infrastructure needs to keep up with the influx of EVs.
Is Telsa Ready to Make a Move in Africa in 2025?
Tesla has been making moves and investments in Asia and Europe, but it hasn’t made much ground in Africa.
South Africa was reportedly having talks with Tesla CEO Elon Musk to establish a battery production facility in the country.
Currently, Tesla hasn’t announced any immediate plans to establish car manufacturing or direct car sales on the continent.
Private individuals have purchased Tesla vehicles and imported them to their respective African countries, but BYD stands to gain more market share as it establishes more physical presence.
What Happens Next
As BYD scales up, it’s likely that the prices will come down and be attractive to prospective buyers, especially in Africa.
As the Trump administration focuses on tariffs, targeting products shipped from China to the US, there is an opportunity for BYD to focus on Europe and Africa, especially as African governments start to focus on transitioning to EVs.
Some countries like Ghana still have challenges when it comes to public charging infrastructure, but this won’t deter early adopters from purchasing EV vehicles.
