Ethiopia First Country To Immediately Ban ICE Vehicles From Operating?

EV charging network in Ethiopia. (Doc. ArenaEV)

JAKARTA - Shocking news came from Ethiopia and no one even thought it was reasonable that this country would be the first to implement it.

Ethiopia recently took steps forward by immediately banning internal fuel vehicles (ICE) or deciding it was time to stop the use of fossil fuels.

As reported by Electrek, Monday, February 5, Ethiopian Transport Minister Alemu Sime, said the country spent 6 billion euros in 2023 alone importing gasoline and diesel.

Apart from being financially unsustainable, the level of pollution in urban areas is also out of control. The only way out of this problem, according to Minister Sime, is to immediately ban non-electric vehicles from entering the country, both old and new.

This bold decision is similar to gambling, but on the other hand, knowing how high pollution has an impact on public health and not doing anything about it is like watching a time bomb.

"The decision has been unanimous, that cars should not enter Ethiopia except for electric cars," he said.

Several strategic ways will be taken, including efforts to build charging stations for electric cars remain a top priority.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia's Ministry of Transportation is moving to follow up on high-priority plans to build charging infrastructure across the country, following a report submitted by Sime to the Ethiopian House of Representatives. The planned ban will be strictly enforced and existing vehicle owners will undergo a strict smoke test. Any vehicle that fails the test no longer meets the requirements for service and must be removed from the road.

Unfortunately, although this is a good step, reported by ArenaEV, February 3, there are about 2 million ICE vehicles in Ethiopia and most of them are over 20 years old. The elimination of 2 million ICE-powered vehicles will take quite a long time, as well as the construction of charging infrastructure for 2 million electric cars which will eventually replace them.

Previously, the European Union had also approved a law that would prohibit the sale of combustion engine cars in its member countries from 2035. As well as the plan will also be carried out by the US, Canada, Japan, India and New Zealand.