THE electric vehicle (EV) market in Zimbabwe is still in its infancy but industry players are confident the sector will soon register rapid growth due to measures being implemented by the Government, including the scrapping of import duty.
In an interview on the current state of EV adoption in the country, BYD Zimbabwe general manager Mr Edward Muchuchuti highlighted the importance of Government support, giving reference to policies such as the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which promotes the use of renewable energy.
“The EV market is still in its infancy in Zimbabwe, and baby steps are being taken to grow the market,” he said.
“It is still relatively quite low compared to regional countries, but we are getting there.
“There is political will from our Government, as evidenced by the crafting of NDS1, which talks about the social and infrastructural pillar that promotes renewable energy adoption.”
Challenges hindering EV adoption While Zimbabwe is making progress, Mr Muchuchuti acknowledged significant challenges hindering the adoption of electric vehicles.
“The first challenge is education. Africa, generally, is slow in terms of adoption,” he said.
“We often ride on the bandwagon after the rest of the globe. But because of the pressures on us, I believe we will move in the right direction.”
Financial constraints also pose a barrier.
“The element of disposable income is a challenge for many individuals in the country,” he said.
“Coupled with limited access to capital, the high upfront cost of EVs makes adoption difficult.”
Mr Muchuchuti said infrastructure remains another hurdle.
“Charging stations are still a major concern,” he said. “For example, I come from Buhera and between Harare and Buhera, there is no charging port. That affects the decision to switch to EVs.”
Efforts to expand charging infrastructure Despite the infrastructure gaps, Mr Muchuchuti revealed that BYD Zimbabwe is actively working on solutions.
“We are very upbeat about promoting EVs and are ensuring that we roll out charging ports across the country,” he said.
“We have a deliberate plan in place, working in conjunction with other stakeholders. Within a short period, we will see a shift.”
BYD is currently engaging with Government agencies and private entities to develop charging infrastructure.
“We have been talking to quasi-government institutions like ZERA, as well as the oil industry, given their existing energy infrastructure,” he said.
“NGOs with an appetite for renewables are also on board.”
Affordability and policy considerations Addressing concerns over EV affordability, Mr Muchuchuti stressed the importance of policy interventions.