Africa’s next technological leapfrog could lie in electric vehicles and solar
Electric vehicle sales in Africa have surged, with electric car sales rising from 4,000 units in 2023 to 25,000 in 2025, and electric motorbikes being adopted fastest. Local assembly of EVs from Chinese components is lowering costs, and countries like Ethiopia and Rwanda have implemented policies such as banning combustion vehicle imports and conventional moto-taxi registrations. Off-grid solar and battery swapping stations are seen as ways to overcome weak power grids.
Why it matters: This trend illustrates the theme of technological leapfrogging, as Africa may bypass traditional infrastructure and import patterns to adopt EVs and solar charging.