What the next Government Must Do to Meet Its EV Goals and Enjoy Economic transformation.
A revolution in electrification of transportation is sweeping across the globe.
Hence, It’s very crucial for the next government to have a policy for electrification of transportation and establish a roadmap to accelerate the development and use of Electrical Vehicles in Ghana.
The policy will set out EV goals and targets to drive local adoption, and intensify efforts on many fronts. Provision of government support is crucial. This includes increasing financial incentives for consumers and manufacturers, investing heavily in charging stations and providing financing and rebates to lower the upfront costs of EVs.
Public-private partnerships should be strengthened to accelerate the development of charging stations across the country. According to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) currently there are only seven charging stations in the country – all located in Accra. Public awareness campaigns are essential to educate citizens about the benefits of EVs, both economically and environmentally.
Some of the Key Benefits of Electric Vehicles are:
Economic Advantages
For consumers, EVs offer a lower total ownership cost. First, EV maintenance costs are around 50% less than Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles and have a similar lifespan. Second, vehicle owners are not reliant on volatile gasoline prices and can instead rely on more stable electricity prices.
On a national scale, reducing oil imports which accounts for the most imported products in the country can significantly lower the dollar rate and uplift the economy.
Energy Efficiency
EVs reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase domestic electricity demand. This will promote more local clean energy generation from hydro, solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. Ghana is rich in these resources and must actively work to increase its capacity and secure the country’s energy future.
Environmental
EVs significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. In urban areas, where air quality is a pressing concern, transportation is one of the primary sources of air pollution. EVs do not produce air pollution and have zero exhaust-pipe greenhouse gas emissions.
This is the era of the 3Es in Ghana, Economy, Energy and the Environment including galamsey. EV is the vehicle to move us forward into the new age of electricity and electrification of transportation. But, who is going to be the driver?
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