• Ethio telecom opened its fourth public super-fast EV charging station in Adama, first expansion outside Addis Ababa. 

• The Adama site uses 180 kW chargers and helps raise network capacity to charge 60 vehicles simultaneously. 

• Since February 2025, the charging network has recorded more than 284,000 charging sessions. 

• The network has delivered over 7.1 million kWh of electricity through its EV charging infrastructure. 

• The rollout has avoided over 10 million kilograms of CO2 emissions, linked to an impact equivalent to planting 50,000 trees. 

• Integration with Telebirr enables NFC Tap-to-Charge payments, real-time monitoring, and automated charging transactions. 

• Ethio telecom launched a National EV Charging Platform to let third-party operators connect into a unified charging network.

• The expansion aligns with the “Next Horizon: Digital and Beyond 2028” strategy, linking telecom infrastructure, payments, and energy systems. 

  Why It Matters?

  This signals movement from pilot-stage EV infrastructure toward scalable national charging deployment in Ethiopia. It lowers infrastructure barriers for electric transport, while opening opportunities for private charging operators, equipment suppliers, and digital payment ecosystems. For logistics, energy, and mobility investors, the story is less telecom diversification than infrastructure platform creation.

• 140,000 electric vehicles currently operating nationwide
• Only 150–200 charging stations installed across Ethiopia
• Ethiopian Electric Utility leads charging infrastructure rollout
• First phase investment estimated at $10 million
• Plan to build 40 charging stations in initial phase
• 32 stations allocated in Addis Ababa, 8 in regional cities
• One charging station construction cost reaches 170 million ETB
• 6 stations built in Addis Ababa, 3 already operational
• 34 additional charging projects under preparation
• 26 sites selected in Addis Ababa, 18 near completion
• Second phase expands to 6 cities including Adama, Hawassa, and Bishoftu
• 2,300 fast charging stations planned over 10 years
• Addis Ababa requires 1,176 fast charging stations alone
• Off-peak tariff set at 14.85 ETB per kWh (10 PM–6 AM)
• Mid-level tariff set at 16.57 ETB per kWh (10 AM–5 PM)
• Peak tariff reaches 18.28 ETB per kWh (6–10 AM, 5–10 PM)

Why it matters?

A gap between 140,000 EVs and fewer than 200 stations signals urgent infrastructure demand. Planned 2,300 stations and structured tariffs open large-scale investment and energy market opportunities.

(Source: Tikvah Ethiopia Telegram Channel)