African nation becomes ‘first country’ to outlaw entry of gas cars!  EVs only! Ethiopia announces plans to ban import of gas-powered vehicles ‘to reduce its output of planet-warming pollution’ — But only 54% of people have ‘access to electricity’

From CLIMATE DEPOT

By Marc Morano

By Kaiyo FunakiApril 6, 2024

Ethiopia announced earlier this year its plan to ban the import of all non-electric automobiles, becoming the first country to outlaw the entry of internal combustion engine vehicles.

Electrek noted that specifics were scant but that the resolution served as a win for the nation’s environmental impact and economy. “A decision has been made, that automobiles cannot enter Ethiopia unless they are electric ones,” Minister for Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime said.

As stated in its Ten Years Development Plan, officials want to reduce Ethiopia’s output of planet-warming pollution from the transportation sector from 41 million metric tons (about 45 million tons) to 27.8 million metric tons (about 30.6 million tons) of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.

Additionally, the country’s Long-Term Low Emission And Climate Resilient Development Strategy report allocated $13.44 billion through 2050 toward charging stations, electric vehicles, and electric buses.

However, the most recent data from the World Bank shows that just over 54% of people in Ethiopia have access to electricity. Furthermore, there are potential financial barriers to purchasing EVs and the lack of charging infrastructure. As such, Sime noted that addressing the latter point remained a high priority.

Though it’s unclear what the exact details of Ethiopia’s ban on dirty-energy-based automobiles will be, it will mark a huge step for the country to meet its pollution-reduction goals.

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/ethiopia-ban-on-gas-vehicles/
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Tom Halla
April 10, 2024 6:05 am

Did someone reboot The National Lampoon?

Scissor
Reply to  Tom Halla
April 10, 2024 6:48 am

In addition, diesel generator sales are about to explode.

Reply to  Tom Halla
April 10, 2024 7:26 am

My thought exactly.

Paul S
Reply to  Tom Halla
April 10, 2024 7:52 am

It goes to show you that politicians are insane. Race, Creed, or Color has nothing to do with it. Political insanity is a worldwide disease.

atticman
Reply to  Paul S
April 10, 2024 10:08 am

I guess that out-virtue-signals us here in the UK!

Mr.
Reply to  Paul S
April 10, 2024 10:12 am

 Political insanity is a worldwide disease.

And most on display at the UN.

The UN is now indisputably the place where reality and rationality go to die.

Walter Sobchak
Reply to  Paul S
April 10, 2024 11:00 am

My guess would be they weren’t insane. They were offered a pot of money to do it by the US/EU/UN, so they did it. The money is already in their offshore bank accounts, and the law is meaningless, because the people are too poor to care.

michael hart
Reply to  Walter Sobchak
April 11, 2024 12:13 am

Yes. The simplest explanation is that money has changed hands somewhere such that some politician or bureaucrat does something to encourage sales of EVs in the country.

Perhaps one particular EV manufacturer will suddenly receive a significant purchase of their vehicles for delivery to Ethiopia. The most obvious suspects are probably in China.

M14NM
Reply to  Tom Halla
April 10, 2024 5:54 pm

MAD magazine’s latest issue.

Tom Halla
Reply to  M14NM
April 10, 2024 6:06 pm

The National Lampoon was very much nastier and mean spirited than Mad. Quite funny, but not something to share with Granny.

Reply to  Tom Halla
April 10, 2024 9:28 pm

G’Day Tom,

Note the source: “The Cool Down.” It was about four months ago that the name started showing up on the Yahoo home page. So I read two articles. Haven’t bothered since then – pure bilge.

April 10, 2024 6:18 am

Who knew: Climate Alarmists are running Ethiopia!

I just wonder what the angle is. Are they True Believers, or are they getting paid to take this position?

Either way, this position is going to harm Ethiopia.

Dave Yaussy
Reply to  Tom Abbott
April 10, 2024 6:42 am

This is fascinating. It will be interesting to see how and when the policy walkback occurs. My guess is that it will be complete and soon.

Scissor
Reply to  Dave Yaussy
April 10, 2024 6:58 am

With no charging infrastructure are 46% without electricity, walkback sounds right.

Reply to  Scissor
April 10, 2024 9:50 am

In Ethiopia, while electricity reaches less than half of the population, great progress has been made over the past two decades. The National Electrification Program, launched in 2017, outlines a plan to reach universal access by 2025, aiming to supply 35% of the population with off-grid solutions. 

https://www.iea.org/countries/ethiopia

Fran
Reply to  Scissor
April 10, 2024 1:27 pm

Even those with electricity probably do not have even 60 amp services unless they are members of the government.

Reply to  Scissor
April 11, 2024 2:49 pm

Pretend you are in charge Scissor…
There are only 2 cars per thousand people in Ethiopia, so never gonna be a better time to NOT allow ICE engined vehicles into the country.
Duohh. Put your eco- brain on think-ahead mode please….without considering CO2, just think of the infrastructure savings.
/s

Reply to  Tom Abbott
April 10, 2024 7:43 am

No doubt the enviros in that nation were educated brainwashed in elite western schools.

Dave Fair
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
April 10, 2024 10:07 am

I put my money on their being bought off by wealthy WEF socialists. Follow the money.

Drake
Reply to  Dave Fair
April 10, 2024 11:00 am

Follow the money.

To the elites. Heck, they probably don’t even know anybody who does not have electricity.

Reply to  Dave Fair
April 12, 2024 3:33 am

Yeah, the leader of Ethiopia probably has a brother-in-law who installs charging stations.

Reply to  Tom Abbott
April 10, 2024 2:00 pm

This gormless exercise will have absolutely zero effect on anything to do with climate.

What it will do is lock 99% of Ethiopia’s population in to continued abject poverty.

Just what the marxist totalitarians want.

James Snook
April 10, 2024 6:23 am

I’m sure it the general population is breathing a sigh of relief now that their government has taken such a bold step to improve their lot………..

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/feb/09/tigray-ethiopia-war-drought-aid-suspended-hunger-crisis-death-desperation

April 10, 2024 6:28 am

Just received an email from an Ethiopian prince who will pay me handsomely to assist him in moving his Rolls Royce out of the country.
I’m gonna be rich!!!!

Reply to  Thomas Finegan
April 10, 2024 8:40 am

But it’s only the importation that’s banned- this could be a clever way to use EVs as an excuse around trade treaties to force car manufacturers to set up a plant in the country to make cars, even gas ones.

April 10, 2024 6:34 am

They can buy Chinese exploding battery scooters instead.

Reply to  karlomonte
April 10, 2024 8:04 am

Like Europe, electric busses seem to be on the rise in africa.

Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 9:05 am

Duhname has batteries-on-the-brain:

How do you propose they be charged in East Africa?

Mr.
Reply to  karlomonte
April 10, 2024 10:16 am

That would involve the matter being properly thought through.
This is something that never happens with “green” propositions.

Reply to  Mr.
April 10, 2024 10:39 am

Just little details for someone else to figure out.

MarkW
Reply to  karlomonte
April 10, 2024 11:11 am

The elites view themselves as being the big picture guys.
Figuring out the details is for hoi polloi to deal with.

Drake
Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 11:03 am

Yep, they probably doubled the number of E busses, they now have 2.

MarkW
Reply to  Drake
April 10, 2024 11:12 am

And neither one runs when needed.

Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 2:01 pm

Elites don’t use busses.. So… NO !!

Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 3:00 pm

A lot of transport outside the main city is done by minibus and small van.

Nobody will be replacing them, especially not with EV bases.

Nobody could for them anyway.

No electricity infrastructure for charging, large distances, horrible roads.

And EV bus would not last a week !

Ethiopia-transport
Reply to  bnice2000
April 10, 2024 3:33 pm

typo correction, line 3

Nobody could afford them anyway.

Corrigenda
April 10, 2024 6:51 am

And this after many nations are finally realising that the idea of net zero is not only unworkable but also that it is nonsense.

Reply to  Corrigenda
April 10, 2024 8:06 am

Really? Nations outside of wuwt? 😛

Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 9:06 am

Yet here you are…

Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 1:27 pm

Sanity starts here…

… but you will never catch it !!

Robertvd
Reply to  Corrigenda
April 10, 2024 8:10 am

The People know that but Big Brother/Sister and his/her puppets are too power hungry. There are no good cancers. They only want to grow bigger.

Rod Evans
April 10, 2024 6:56 am

A sad pathetic gesture beyond words.
this from an impoverished country that needs all the reliable energy transport options it can get, yet it decides shooting itself in the foot is the best policy, truly shameful.

Curious George
Reply to  Rod Evans
April 10, 2024 8:37 am

Are they really Communists?

Reply to  Curious George
April 10, 2024 12:50 pm

Nope, capitalists. The communists are building hundreds of coal-fired plants in China.

Curious George
Reply to  Rod Evans
April 10, 2024 9:53 am

They are already in charge of the World Health Organization.

observa
April 10, 2024 7:16 am

It makes a terrif Green headline that Ethiopia is leading the world by example with a battery car mandate-
Increasing car ownership in Ethiopia (bbc.com)
and a freebie for the Pres-
Ethiopia Showcases First Locally Assembled Electric Car (techweez.com)
It’s a tough gig going Green but somebody has to do it.

Gregory Woods
Reply to  observa
April 10, 2024 7:37 am

As Kermit would say: It ain’t easy being green

Reply to  observa
April 10, 2024 7:48 am

“leading the world by example”

Right, soon we’ll all be living like Ethiopians.

Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
April 10, 2024 8:36 am

💯

April 10, 2024 7:25 am

Do all of the “important” high-ranking government officials already own ICE vehicles? Yes.

When those vehicles eventually die, do all of the “important” high-ranking government officials already have access to electricity? Yes.

Therefore, the new legislation is only a problem for the peasants, not the elites. If you can’t separate yourself from the peasants, what is the point of being elite?

P.S. John Kerry knows the answer to my rhetorical question.

Reply to  pillageidiot
April 11, 2024 1:44 am

An extract from a link provided by James Snook above:

The drought is one of the worst in recent memory, but it is just the latest crisis to hit Tigray. The rains failed in the middle of a suspension of aid, introduced by the US and the United Nations in mid-March over a huge scheme to steal humanitarian grain by Ethiopian officials. The pause was extended to the rest of Ethiopia in June when the theft was discovered to be nationwide.”

So it seems there are no depths to which Ethiopian officials won’t sink to cream off some cash for themselves.

April 10, 2024 7:36 am

Article says”… it will mark a huge step for the country to…”.

I guess “to continue its willingness to keep its people mired in poverty.”

April 10, 2024 7:38 am

If most Irish workers in the private sector cannot afford an EV how can impoverished Ethiopians afford an EV?

Reply to  Michael in Dublin
April 10, 2024 7:50 am

but.. but.. mules have a much lower carbon footprint 🙂

Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
April 10, 2024 12:54 pm

Even mules exhale around 10 pounds(4.5 kg) of CO2 per day.

April 10, 2024 7:42 am

Countries will now industrialize using renewables. And probably directily jump to EVs. Whether you like it or not.

Tom Halla
Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 7:46 am

And a sufficiently well funded genetic engineering program will produce flying pigs. How well funded? When they produce flying pigs, of course!

Dave Andrews
Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 8:30 am

Tell me how the vast majority of people in Ethiopia that do not own any type of vehicle (pop almost 130m, registered cars less than 1m) “jump to EVs”

Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 9:06 am

Where will the electrons come from, Duhname?

MarkW
Reply to  karlomonte
April 10, 2024 9:31 am

He’s like most leftists. Since the leadership says it’s possible, it’s possible. Doubt of the leadership is not permitted.

Reply to  MarkW
April 10, 2024 12:59 pm

The big world leftist countries, China and Russia are building coal and gas-fired power plants.

It’s the capitalists hoping to make trillions in profits that are pushing the climate change agenda on the West.

The capitalists are the ones who own the media, control the politicians, and control the universities that are pushing the “green” agenda.

MarkW
Reply to  scvblwxq
April 10, 2024 3:26 pm

In what passes for your mind, anyone with money is a capitalist?

Reply to  scvblwxq
April 10, 2024 3:26 pm

The main thing Ethiopia are building is hydro.

Drake
Reply to  scvblwxq
April 11, 2024 8:29 am

It’s the CRONY capitalists hoping to make trillions in profits that are pushing the climate change agenda on the West.

There, I fixed it for you! You are using ALMOST the right phrase.

Those who believe in FREE ENTERPRISE would never support the climate change agenda or anything else that requires government subsidies to function.

Those who use capitalist as a descriptor believes in the tenants of Marx, thus is Marxist. So you are scvblwxq, as shown by MANY of your posts here. Including:

The big world leftist countries, China and Russia are building coal and gas-fired power plants.

Neither China OR Russia are leftist and only a Marxist could even think of writing such an ignorant sentence. China and Russia are both Fascist. AND totalitarian. Election in Russia, yes, but like Brazil, Russia just made sure no one else could run against Putin through their courts. I am sure YOU approve.

MarkW
Reply to  Drake
April 11, 2024 8:35 am

Crony capitalism is just another cover for socialist.
If you want to use government to pick the winners and losers, you are a socialist.

MarkW
Reply to  Drake
April 11, 2024 8:35 am

Crony capitalism is just another cover for socialist.
If you want to use government to pick the winners and losers, you are a socialist.

MarkW
Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 9:29 am

You’re funny.

Mr.
Reply to  MarkW
April 10, 2024 10:20 am

Funny ha-ha or funny peculiar?

MarkW
Reply to  Mr.
April 10, 2024 11:13 am

yes

Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 1:24 pm

“will now industrialize using renewables.”

No they will not. It is not possible to industrialise using wind and solar.

UK and Germany have had to deindustrialised because they stupidly decided to use wind and solar.

Reply to  bnice2000
April 12, 2024 3:46 am

Exactly.

observa
Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 9:53 pm

It’s like this-
Trillions in taxpayer subsidies haven’t made wind and solar power cheaper or better for the world, massive spending figures show | Sky News Australia
Not that reason will ever make any impact on you emotional types who feel you’re doomed and have the feels you can change the weather building monuments to Gaia. We’re just thankful you get there’s a shortage of virgins for the volcanoes.

technically right
April 10, 2024 7:47 am

Merely burnishing their climate alarmist bonafides so they can be first to feed at the UN’s Loss and Damage money trough. I imagine a lot of that will wind up in the pockets of Alemu Sime and his “Leadership” buddies.

April 10, 2024 8:00 am

On a somewhat related note:

Volkswagen electric car sales plunge as Europe returns to petrol (paywalled)

Sales of Volkswagen electric cars have plunged by almost a quarter in Europe as demand for battery-powered vehicles stalls and buyers return to petrol…

Reply to  Paul Hurley
April 10, 2024 3:31 pm

Getting to about the time that early EV buyers will be wanting to up-grade…

… and are finding that the value of their old EV is basically ZERO. ! 😉

Fool ’em once, ………….maybe not fool ’em twice. !!

Reply to  Paul Hurley
April 11, 2024 7:30 am

There are only so many lemmings who believe there is some sort of “energy transition” going on.

Reply to  BobM
April 12, 2024 3:49 am

The “energy transition” is falling on its face.

Reply to  Paul Hurley
April 12, 2024 3:48 am

I think the public is wising up to the drawbacks of EVs.

Rahx360
April 10, 2024 8:05 am

I had to sign up for this. Ethiopia where every once in a while is starvation? I’m not against EVs but call them a big failure. Most people in the rich countries can’t even afford them (and don’t want them). My biggest guess that ICE cars would stay in high demand for poor countries like in Africa. Maybe after a complete failure in the West and second hand prices plumitting for EVs it might be cheaper than diesal cars. It’s criminal for poor countries to waste the little they have on this kind of nonsense.
Or is it a money scheme to get free money from the West?

Reply to  Rahx360
April 12, 2024 3:52 am

My bet is it is a money scheme. This whole “energy transition” is a money scheme. That’s why it continues on even as it becomes obvious it is not going to work.

April 10, 2024 8:05 am

A decision has been made, that automobiles cannot enter Ethiopia unless they are electric ones.

Elsewhere the minister has noted: “that the nation’s inability to access favorable foreign exchange resources has contributed to its inability to afford to continue importing gasoline and diesel.”

It looks like it’s a bargaining position: lend us money or your car-makers will be shut out.

Reply to  quelgeek
April 10, 2024 8:22 am

No, it’s about western car makers stalling innovation and now losing markets.

MarkW
Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 10:01 am

Wow, you really do believe the nonsense they are feeding you.

The only automakers who are losing share, are the ones who jumped heavily on the EV car bandwagon.

Reply to  MyUsername
April 10, 2024 10:02 am

Grow up – it’s their call. If EVs were demanded by consumers and profitable for car makers to produce, there wouldn’t be any need for State coercion now, would there?

Mr.
Reply to  Frank from NoVA
April 10, 2024 10:23 am

He’s 9.
Like all of us he will grow up in time.

Drake
Reply to  Mr.
April 10, 2024 11:09 am

But will he learn anything along the way??

Many brainwashed can NEVER learn.

Dave Andrews
April 10, 2024 8:23 am

With a population of almost 130m Ethiopia has less than 1m cars over 60% of which are in the capital Addis Ababa. Obviously the elites don’t what the rest to get above their station. I mean it’s not that big a country, surely they can cycle or walk? 🙂

DFJ150
April 10, 2024 8:25 am

Congratulations, Ethiopia is on track to become the first 15 minute city/country. This is just another slide down the WEF’s slippery slope of making all the “useless eaters” nonmobile. And, BTW, with the fuel costs, generation costs, losses in the step-up transformers, power lines, step-down transformers, chargers, and batteries (in the unaffordable, unreliable vehicles), the “environmental” and real costs of EVs greatly exceeds that of ICE vehicles. Better start investing in, and stocking up on, moonbeams, pixie dust, and unicorn farts.

MarkW
Reply to  DFJ150
April 10, 2024 10:04 am

With just 1 million cars for over 130 million people, I would say that Ethiopia already is a 15 minute country. A country where only the elite have the ability to travel, the ideal green/socialist country.

Aetiuz
April 10, 2024 8:30 am

Ethiopia produces 5 hundredths of one percent of the world’s carbon emissions. Just what is the point of banning gas powered cars in Ethiopia? What is the point?

MarkW
Reply to  Aetiuz
April 10, 2024 10:05 am

Power and money for those who run the asylum.

April 10, 2024 8:43 am

However, the most recent data from the World Bank shows that just over 54% of people in Ethiopia have access to electricity. Furthermore, there are potential financial barriers to purchasing EVs and the lack of charging infrastructure.”

Good example of a disconnect between government policies and reality.

MarkW
April 10, 2024 9:11 am

In addition, the majority of the 54% that do have access to electricity, that electricity is
1) Unreliable
2) Insufficient to charge an EV
3) Both

Sparta Nova 4
April 10, 2024 9:40 am

45 million tons

Heavy.

mleskovarsocalrrcom
April 10, 2024 10:28 am

Unintended consequences will catch up to this real quick.

MarkW
April 10, 2024 11:15 am

I wonder how long those EV batteries are going to last, bouncing along on the heavily rutted dirt roads outside the capital. Scraping bottom several times per mile.

Reply to  MarkW
April 10, 2024 1:13 pm

They can always export them to the electric vehicle graveyards in China, where they will sit until the next conflagration.

Lamont Cranston
April 10, 2024 11:34 am

Ethiopian government gives new meaning to the left’s favorite acronym DEI,
Diversity, Equity, Imbecile.