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In this episode of the Climate Action Now Podcast, we interviewed Eder Semedo, technical advisor to the ProMEC project, implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), in partnership with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy (MICE), which aims to be one of the levers of electric mobility in Cabo Verde, contributing to the decarbonization of the country.

Eder, what is the current state of electric mobility in Cabo Verde, and what initiatives are underway to promote the use of electric vehicles? What is the outlook for the sector in our country?

Electric mobility has taken on an increasingly prominent role in Cabo Verde, which is demonstrated by the fact that 5.3% of vehicles registered in the country in 2023 will have been electric, a significant figure and one that we hope will continue to grow.

The country’s journey in this sector has an important milestone in 2019, with the publication of the Policy Charter for Electric Mobility (CPME). Through the CPME, the Government of Cabo Verde outlined the country’s goals for the sector until 2050, putting Cabo Verde at the forefront of the ambition to electrify the national fleet. This was followed by the preparation of a project proposal for the Mitigation Action Facility, a climate fund, which involved MICE and GIZ, and thus ProMEC was born.

Among the project’s various initiatives are incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and wallboxes (private charging stations), available to individuals, public and private companies, as well as the establishment of a public charging network throughout the country.

At the moment, people can benefit from a discount of around 550,000 escudos on the purchase of an electric vehicle, and there are special incentives for cabs that exceed 800,000 escudos. The process is quite simple, with those interested just needing to go to one of the many dealerships registered in the program and fill in a form. There are already around 200 vehicles financed by the project. All further information is available at www.portalenergia.cv/promec .

At the same time, there are already 30 charging stations available across the country, boosting the confidence of electric vehicle users who don’t have the possibility of charging their vehicle at home or at work, or who occasionally need to use the public network.

Eder, in your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing Cabo Verde in the wider adoption of electric mobility, both in terms of the cost of purchasing electricity and infrastructure, and in terms of incentive policies?

We should note the tremendous technological evolution of electric vehicles in recent years, including batteries, the increasing number of manufacturers and the number of users. This has resulted in constant decreases in the cost of purchasing electric vehicles, and we believe that in the short term we will have parity between these vehicles and fossil fuel vehicles. What’s more, it’s worth noting that the operating and maintenance costs of electric vehicles are significantly lower, and can be between 30% and 40% lower than those of fossil fuels. We’re talking about considerable savings which, over the course of an electric vehicle’s operation, make all the difference. I give the example of cabs, which are vehicles with a mileage of up to 250 km per day. After about two years, the operation of an electric cab reaches the break-even point with the operation of a fossil cab, and it becomes cheaper from that point on. This is also behind the special incentive that cabs receive – they are a sub-sector with tremendous potential and where market logic already favors electric ones.

Regarding the charging network, Cabo Verde is currently one of the countries with the highest number of charging stations per vehicle in circulation, and we believe that the network will continue to be strengthened to ensure the satisfaction of all users.

Eder, where do you think we are heading in terms of electric mobility in Cabo Verde? What can we expect for the future, and how can the population, the private sector and the authorities contribute to this transition?

The private sector has clearly embraced electric mobility, which is already seen as a business and job creation opportunity.The figures for beneficiaries of incentives say so, as does the enthusiasm seen among national car dealerships and other players such as operators, sellers and installers of charging stations.The market continues to grow and the regulatory framework will be strengthened to guarantee the duties and rights of all players in the sector.There is a government commitment to electrify the entire public fleet by 2030, and we believe that the steps to be taken in this direction will further strengthen confidence in the ecosystem that is being created.

At the same time, we must all work to demystify electric mobility, fighting false notions that are often repeated about the viability of these vehicles in Cabo Verde. Increasing public awareness is an ongoing effort by ProMEC and its partners, which we call on everyone to join.

Eder, can you explain how the incentives work for those who want to buy an electric car and what people at home can do?

It’s quite easy! Any interested person or private/public entity just has to go to one of the dealerships registered in the program and choose the electric vehicle they want to buy. There, they fill in a form with the necessary information and… that’s it.

The dealership will process the application with the program and the beneficiary will be notified when the application has been approved.

Eder, there are many doubts about the maintenance of an electric vehicle, such as, for example, in the rainy season, how will the vehicle behave with the splashes and puddles of water that we have, and how will the mechanical maintenance be?Can you demonstrate that electric vehicles are still safe and working?

These are the myths we have to fight! Come rain, shine or snow, electric vehicles are 100% reliable, no different from fossil vehicles. From Norway to China, via Kenya or Colombia, electric vehicles are present on all continents and in all climatic conditions, without any problems having been encountered.

In the field of maintenance, ProMEC has been monitoring dealerships to ensure that they offer quality after-sales service. In addition, as part of a memorandum of understanding with the IEFP, training for trainers in electric vehicle maintenance will be organized in November 2024.The aim is to include this module in national vocational training in the near future, guaranteeing the training of mechanics with this skill.

Eder, would you like to leave us with a final message?

Decarbonization is an imperative for our country, with a view to greater energy security and reducing the extremely harmful impact of importing fossil fuels on national public accounts.

The electrification of vehicles complements the various initiatives in the country aimed at increasing the penetration of renewable energies. It’s a solution that makes sense for the country and sense for the planet. We all, national and municipal public authorities and the private sector, must contribute to having less polluted cities and lower GHG emissions.

Author

Eder Semedo,
Technical advisor to the ProMEC project