Green Technologies Ethiopia invests 2.4 bln Birr on renewable energies

By Yared Nigussie

Green Technologies Ethiopia said it has invested 2.4 billion Birr to expand cleaner energy alternatives.

Fitsum Deriessa, General Manager Green Technologies Ethiopia, among the subsidiaries Green Tech Africa, told Origins Business that Green Technologies has so far invested 2.4 billion Birr to import electric vehicles and conduct other activities pertaining to expanding green energy alternatives.

The renewable energy alternatives provided by the Green Tech include establishment of electric vehicle charging centers, solar energy alternatives, and water desalination activities, Fitsum said.

“Not less than 1000 electric vehicles assembled in China are in the entry process to Ethiopia,” he said, adding, “500 electric vehicles are in Djibouti port, and expected to arrive soon”.

“We have a plan to open charging center in Sendafa town,” he said.

Additionally, Green Tech plans to open electric vehicles assembly in Addis Abeba. “We are requesting Addis Abeba’s Administration to secure a land for assembly plant, and hopefully it would be successful,” Fitsum said.

The automobiles were imported from Chinese car maker Dongfeng Motor Corporation, and Green Tech envisions opening a car assembly plant in the near future.

Meanwhile, Green Technologies Ethiopia has displayed 60 electric vehicles during the nation-wide electric vehicles launching program held at Friendship Square on Wednesday.

Dagmawit Moges, Minister of Transport and Logistics officially launched the electric vehicles and conducted a demo driving.

Dagmawit noted that the introduction and adoption of technology to tap into the green energy potential will play a key role in securing a clean and affordable energy future for Ethiopia.

There are different models of electric vehicles presented in the launching program.

Ana 200, Jan 450, and Nangang model electric vehicles, among others, presented on the program.

These vehicles have different approximate ranges.

Ana 200 electric vehicle’s price is 1,540,000 Birr and it’s capable of providing a range up to 360 km in a single charge.

Jan 450 model, on other hand, has a price of 2,695,000 Birr and it can travel 450km once fully charged.

The price for Nangang model electric vehicle is 3.5 million Birr, and it’s capable of providing a range up to 550 km in in a single charge.

Whereas, the minibus electric vehicle price is estimated to be close to 6.5 million Birr and it can cover a range of 320km per a single charge. The minibus is ideal for both public transport and service providers, Fitsum said.

Three-wheeler and scooters electric vehicle are also planned to be assembled in Ethiopia by Green Technologies, according to Fitsum.

Green Tech is also planning to supply public buses to solve the transportation hiccups.

“We have offered our prices for the institutions that requested buses. But the buses require lots of infrastructures (including charming centers) and the price is quite expensive,” he said.

Origins Business also asked Fitsum regarding the expensive price of the electric vehicles.

The price of electric vehicles is much higher than the gasoline cars internationally, he responds.

“The price of Lithium, a component of electric vehicles battery, is very high and it’s also in short of supply at a global market,” Fitsum explains.

Fitsum went on to say, “There are electric vehicles with relatively lower price. But, the battery life of these cars is short because it made up of lead acid, which too has a risk of explosion”.

“The electric vehicles we have displayed today are expensive because of high battery quality,” as he puts it.

Green Tech benefits from the fact that the green movement is desperately required in Ethiopia. In reality, the government has a resilient vision that supports the use of electric cars in order to minimize pollution produced by transportation services by offering renewable energy transportation services.

Green Tech Ethiopia is currently the country’s second formal entry into the electric vehicle industry, following Marathon Motors.