When we talk about electric vehicles (EVs), the usual suspects come to mind: Tesla in the U.S., BYD in China, or Volkswagen in Germany. But a quiet EV revolution is brewing in a less-expected corner of the world—Africa. More specifically, Nigeria.
Meet NEV Electric, a Nigerian-based EV startup that’s raised eyebrows and expectations by selling $14 million worth of electric buses in just over a year. Their buses aren’t high-end Teslas or futuristic concept vans—they’re rugged, practical, and designed for African roads. That’s the kind of local relevance global EV adoption often overlooks.
According to the African Development Bank, transportation emissions account for about 10% of total CO2 emissions across the continent. But even more pressing is the cost of fuel. With fluctuating fuel subsidies, growing urbanisation, and volatile currencies, African cities are looking for cost-stable, scalable transportation—and EVs are starting to fit the bill.
NEV Electric isn’t alone. Uganda’s Kiira Motors and Rwanda’s Ampersand are also deploying locally manufactured or assembled electric vehicles, including motorcycles and buses. Their target markets aren’t tech-savvy urban elites—they’re commercial transport operators, delivery fleets, and public transit systems. This bottom-up EV adoption model is exactly what makes Africa such a fascinating case.
Infrastructure, however, remains the biggest challenge. Most African countries lack consistent power grids, let alone public EV charging stations. But that’s where innovation thrives. In Lagos, for example, solar-powered EV charging hubs are being piloted by clean energy startups, and battery-swapping services are gaining attention in East Africa as a workaround for long charging times.
Global automakers are starting to pay attention. Chinese EV makers like Jetour and Changan are expanding into Africa with affordable models. And while the African EV market may not match China’s 7.7 million EVs sold in 2023, its year-over-year growth of over 160% (according to BNEF) signals it’s no longer a fringe market.
The real story here isn’t just about clean transportation. It’s about local manufacturing, energy independence, and job creation. By designing EVs for local realities—potholes, poor power supply, and affordability—African innovators are quietly changing the rules of global auto development.
As EV demand plateaus in Europe and China tightens its grip on battery production, African markets could represent the next frontier—not just for selling vehicles, but for producing them too. Don’t be surprised if the next global EV success story has Lagos, Kigali, or Kampala stamped on its license plate.
