[size=14pt]Ethiopia launches electric car despite power shortages[/size] 

Ethiopia has launched an electric car, despite suffering from power shortages. It is only the second African country to do so, after South Africa.

Two versions of the Solaris Elettra will be manufactured in Addis Ababa, costing around $12,000 and $15,000.

The cars will be sold in Ethiopia and exported to Africa and Europe.

But some doubt if Africa, where erratic power supplies, low levels of personal wealth and poor infrastructure are common, is ready for electric cars.

Carlo Pironti, general manager of Freestyle PLC, the company producing the Solaris, told the BBC's Uduak Amimo in Addis Ababa that Ethiopia's electricity shortages were not a major obstacle to operating an electric car.

"Ethiopia in future will have lots of power supply," he said.

"In any case, the car can be recharged by generator and by solar power."


Rwanda's bio-diesel bus 
Taxes on cars in Ethiopia can be more than 100% and many Ethiopians with low incomes will struggle to afford an electric car.

To overcome this problem, Mr Pironti says his company will develop a credit system for less affluent customers.

Six Solaris Elettras will be produced every week for the next three months, rising to 30 per week when Freestyle's factory in Addis Ababa is fully operational, he says.

Mr Pironti says he wants to take the Solaris "from a green country to a green world," referring to the company's plans to export the car from Ethiopia to Africa and beyond.

But Wayne Batty, senior writer at South Africa's Topcar magazine, believes only a small percentage of Africa has the necessary infrastructure to support an electric car.

Mr Batty told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that electric cars are fine for short trips of 40 to 50 km (25 to 31 miles), but African countries lack the recharging points for longer journeys.

Ethiopia's electric car comes after Rwanda launched its first bio-diesel bus last week.

It is currently building a huge hydro-electric dam on the Omo river and hopes to become a major exporter of energy when that is completed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8596455.stm

And the so called ' Giant of Africa ' is yet to launch a bicycle !!

Africans should buy this car, this will help the Ethiopian car industry.

Electricity in Africa is a problem but with solar power, it'll be tackled. Kudos to Ethiopia, the home of Eden.

To be fair Nigeria has built an armoured  vehicle.



Question is, will the skills of the guys who built it be used more effectively to build small eco-friendly cars ?



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@frosbel,
Let this guys be encouraged and be supported by Nigeria for proper effectiveness.
Our people from east should be call also.

Good for them.What will 9ja launch apart from corruption

look the thing is there are brains in this country but the oppurtunity doesnt exist at all!!!

Good step to development

$15,000 for that car? Dem dey craze!

Ill stick to ma Japanese and German models, thanks very much.

wow africa is coming up

Nice one there!

SHALOM

A good read and Idea.

Some years ago I believe 1995 while in school, I read a Person from Enugu if not mistaken built and in the process of developing a car  called the "Z Saloon 500".

If anyone have any information if the producer of this car (Z Saloon 500) is still trying to develop it? Thanks

long live Africa, Up Ethiopia

Nice, I had said welcome to this New development When I Heard 'bout it, we hope to have such in naija soon.

naija wud build a solar powered car in the next few years

if it is built in Naija they will say na ibo made., so dont buy it.

@labiyemmy:

if it is built in Naija they will say na ibo made., so dont buy it.

That is the reason govt needs to step in and ban the importation of any goods with "Igbo made" counterparts. We will be forced to patronise our local industry that way.

In the meantime, way to go Ethiopia! Carry go!

@labiyemmy:

if it is built in Naija they will say na Igbo made., so dont buy it.

not even that, they'll say has it undergone various tests, if that is not enough, they'll say it was modelled after a car in blah blah country. Whenever i see a country in Africa do something good, i'm happy, but also angry, at d fact that the govt is not doing its best to turn the country into a manufacturing one. If talents were tapped after civil war or the govt brings in people who are making it in various countries and provides the necessary facilities, we would have been exporting machines. Congrats to Ethiopia for achieving this.

Another thing there is this: the govt would rather import than develop and encourage them which leaves people to die with their God given talents.

@frosbel pls where is that car that was launched in nigeria

That's a good one even though it is not economical. Our govt. needs to step up its game by encouraging our local technology.

Ibime:

$15,000 for that car? Dem dey craze!

Ill stick to ma Japanese and German models, thanks very much.

i have to agree. there lies the catch in most of these 'eco friendly' cars you pay through your nose for a vehicle that cannot provide a quarter (let me be generous) of the performance of your regular car

Good for them

Kudos to the Ethiopians.

However, there is nothing extra ordinary in building a vehicle powered by electricity. The main issue like most people here have mentioned is government support.

If I was Lagos State governor for instance, Ild sponsor research into developing Buses powered by electricity in Lagos State. These buses will eventually take over from the ones presently used in the BRT scheme. There will be charge points (solar powered, etc) at strategic places in between journeys to make sure that vehicles do not lack power.
In the long run, considering cost of fuel and maintenance of vehicle (should be far more cheaper in this case as electicity powered vehicles do not have as many moving parts as petrol/diesel powered vehicles), these type of BUSES will be cheaper and ofcourse, eco friendly.

Wow! Thats splendid. This is Ethopians first step to greatness. I wish em' good luck.

This car is too expensive if actually it was made in Ethiopia and by Ethiopians. In fact, we should stop jubilating that Ethiopia manufactured an electric car. Let them go for large scale farming, feed themselves and stop appealing for food every year.

nakedall:

This car is too expensive if actually it was made in Ethiopia and by Ethiopians. In fact, we should stop jubilating that Ethiopia manufactured an electric car. Let them go for large scale farming, feed themselves and stop appealing for food every year.

Why stop being happy for the Ethiopians? I for one think it's a great move forward, in the right direction.

An electric car will be expensive, as R& doesn't come cheap. It will also pay for itself in the long run, compared to an ICE-powered car.

Good work brother Ethiopia! I like this challenge