At COP27, the country
introduced incentives
to attract and ease the
process for investors
who want to sell or
manufacture electric
vehicles and charging
facilities in the country.
Electric vehicles, spare
parts, batteries, and
charging station
equipment are
exempted from import
and excise duties and
zero-rated for value-
added tax.
Companies setting up
charging stations across
the country can access
the government’s land
on a rent-free basis.
Companies’
manufacturing and
assessing electric
vehicles in Rwanda can
enjoy a 15 per cent
corporate income tax
rate and tax holiday.
The costs for charging
will be priced at the
industrial tariff.
The government is also
expanding and
enhancing public
transport networks.
As part of the public
transport policy and
strategy, Rwanda’s
Ministry of
Infrastructure is
improving public
transport infrastructure
by expanding,
rehabilitating,
upgrading and
maintaining roads to
enhance the capacity of
the country’s public
transport network
while also contributing
to sustainable
economic
development.
In order to improve the
quality of public
transport systems,
buses in Kigali were
equipped with free
internet for passengers,
making public transport
more favourable and
attractive to users and
discouraging the use of
private cars. This aims
at reducing emissions
from road transport.
The government of
Rwanda is also working
with local and
international
development partners
to achieve sustainable
mobility and an
efficient and resilient
transport system.
Through a partnership
with the Global Green
Growth Institute, the
United Nations
Environment
Programme, the
International Finance
Corporation and the
World Bank, numerous
activities are being
implemented,
according to REMA.
These include a study
on the introduction of
electric vehicles in
Rwanda to assess the
feasibility of the
introduction of electric
vehicles and the
impact, as well as
showcasing current and
emerging technologies
in the country and
potential investors
either locally or
internationally.
Other related activities
include a study to
assess the feasibility of
e-buses in Kigali and
identify the right
strategy to deploy e-
buses in the capital city
with the possibility to
replicate a model for
larger-scale
deployment across the
country.
“The transition to e-
mobility offers exciting
opportunities for the
private sector to
contribute to building a
greener world,” said
Donald Kabanda, CEO
of REM Ltd, a firm that
prides itself in creating
self-contained
ecosystems that apply
practical and efficient
operating concepts for
its electric vehicles.
At least 33 per cent of
motorcycles will be
electric, by 2030. Total
adoption of electric
vehicles and related
solutions in Rwanda
will require up to $900
million.
According to studies, 13
percent of emissions in
Rwanda are from road
transport. More than
40 per cent of the
transport sector
emissions are from
buses.
Rwanda has 38,800
kilometers of road, of
which 4 per cent is
paved.
More than $2.2 billion
is needed to upgrade
elements of the road
network to be more
climate resilient and
improve connectivity,
according to the
Rwanda Green Fund
(FONERWA).
Rwanda has 170,000
personal motor
vehicles, increasing by
per cent per year and
more than $1 billion is
required to convert 20
per cent to electric
vehicles by 2030,
including supporting
infrastructure, studies
show.
The country has 1,500
buses, with more to be
added for Kigali BRT
and more than $150
million is needed to
convert 20 per cent of
the fleet to electric
vehicles by 2030 –
including supporting
infrastructure.
Rwanda’s unique
context requires
innovative mobility
solutions and over $1.3
billion is needed to
develop advanced
transport technology,
infrastructure, and
mobility services.
“With 40 per cent of
Africa’s current
emissions coming from
the transport system
sector and 2.5 billion
people by 2050, there
is simply a route to
global net-zero by 2050
without equitable
access to affordable
clean transport,” said
Josh Whale, CEO of
Ampersand Rwanda, an
integrated electric
motorcycle and
transport energy
solution firm.
“Rwanda is leading the
charge, and Africa’s
vast motorbike fleet
can be electrified for
much less than it
spends on fuel in one
year,” he added.
Using technology
adapted for the local
market, Ampersand’s
vehicles emit 75% less
carbon than petrol
motorcycles with zero
tailpipe emissions and
put over $500 a year
back into drivers’
pockets.
In May 2019,
Ampersand launched a
new era in African
mobility with 20 e-
motos in Kigali with the
goal of expanding
across the continent
and enabling half of all
motorcycle traffic
across Africa to be
electric by 2030.
Negotiations, sharing
solutions aimed at
curbing emissions by
the world’s biggest-
polluting industries, as
well as continued calls
for climate justice and
finance for hard-hit
developing countries
were in the spotlight,
on November 18, as the
latest UN Climate
Conference neared
conclusion in Egypt.