In a significant development for Ethiopia‘s burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, Ethio telecom, the country’s leading telecoms provider with over 81 million subscribers (including over 78 million mobile voice subscribers and over 44 million data and internet users), has launched a state-of-the-art ultra-fast EV charging station in Addis Ababa.
This initiative aligns with Ethio Telecom‘s vision to be the leading digital solutions provider, encapsulated in their slogan “Bringing New Possibilities.”
The new charging hub, located on both sides of Bole to Megenagna road, is designed to meet the increasing demand for fast, efficient, and smart charging solutions.
It can simultaneously charge up to 32 electric vehicles, offering convenience and efficiency for drivers.
Key highlights of the Ethio Telecom ultra-fast charging hub, as detailed on their website, include:
Smart, AI-Powered Charging: The hub features smart chargers that leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize charging speed and power delivery based on individual vehicle battery requirements and user preferences, ensuring faster, smarter, and more energy-efficient charging.
Charging Infrastructure: The hub comprises:
Eight Ultra-Fast Chargers (up to 600 kW each) capable of fully charging compatible vehicles within 15 minutes.
Twelve Super-Fast Chargers (up to 500 kW each) for high-speed charging.
Smart Pole Chargers (Level II) integrated into smart city infrastructure, providing emergency charging options.
Seamless Digital Experience: The charging station operates 24/7 and is fully powered by the telebirr SuperApp, Ethio Telecom’s digital payment platform.
Customers can pay for charging services quickly and conveniently with telebirr.
Drivers can initiate charging independently using telebirr for a seamless, cashless transaction experience.
Smart Online Monitoring via the telebirr SuperApp allows for real-time tracking and efficient management through fiber, 4G, or 5G networks.
This launch is a major boost to Ethiopia’s EV ambitions.
In 2024, Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban the importation of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, aiming to reduce its over US$5 billion annual fossil fuel import bill and enhance energy security.
This bold move has spurred the import of tens of thousands of EVs, primarily from China, including models like the Toyota bZ4x EV, Mercedes-Benz EQ range, VW’s ID.4 and ID.6, and the Changan Ben Benn E-Star.
Official dealerships like BYD have also entered the Ethiopian market.
While the ban on ICE vehicle imports has accelerated EV adoption, it has also highlighted the need for robust charging infrastructure. Ethio Telecom’s initiative addresses this critical need.
Ethiopia’s ambitious 10-year plan, initially targeting 148,000 electric cars and nearly 50,000 electric buses by 2030, has seen remarkable progress.
The Ministry of Transport and Logistics recently announced that this target has already been met in just two years, prompting an increase to nearly 500,000 EVs within the 10-year period.
This rapid growth underscores Ethiopia’s potential to become a global leader in EV adoption.
The Ethio Telecom charging hub, with its impressive capacity to charge 32 vehicles simultaneously, including 8 chargers supporting up to 600kW and 12 supporting up to 500kW, signifies a crucial step in supporting this transition.
This infrastructure development is particularly important given Ethiopia’s low motorization rate, with approximately 1.2 million vehicles registered in a country of 126 million people.
The majority of these vehicles are over 20 years old, further emphasizing the potential for rapid EV adoption.