E-bikes are gaining popularity in Ethiopia, driven by the government's push to accelerate the transition to e-mobility and reduce foreign currency spending on fossil fuels.

by Xinhua writers Muluneh Gebre, Liu Fangqiang

ADDIS ABABA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Samuel Ababu, 22, is one of 100 electric bike riders working for Klik, a delivery company specializing in transporting food, groceries, medicines and parcels across Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

For the young man, e-bikes not only provide a source of income but also a sense of freedom, sparing him the stress of traffic congestion, rising fuel prices and the search for parking.

"The use of e-bikes is cost-effective, especially during this time when the price of fuel is rising. They travel faster than normal bikes," Ababu told Xinhua.

Beyond delivery services, e-bikes are gaining popularity in Ethiopia, driven by the government's push to accelerate the transition to e-mobility and reduce foreign currency spending on fossil fuels. Despite its abundant hydropower resources, the country spends billions of U.S. dollars annually importing fuel.

As part of efforts to promote electric mobility, Ethiopia in 2024 banned the import of fossil fuel-powered vehicles and introduced tax incentives for electric vehicles (EVs). Under the policy, duties were reduced to 15 percent for fully built imported EVs, 5 percent for semi-assembled units, and zero for completely knocked-down kits assembled locally, in a bid to encourage domestic assembly and wider adoption.

The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has also recently called for an accelerated transition to e-mobility amid global oil price shocks triggered by the Middle East conflict.

Lodric Trading PLC, one of the fast-growing e-bike businesses in Ethiopia, has been assembling and distributing China-made Yadea-brand e-bikes in Addis Ababa and five other major cities over the past year.

Biruk Abiot, chief executive officer of Yadea Ethiopia, said demand for e-bikes has surged following the government's ban on the importation of fuel-powered vehicles.

Having studied in China for seven years, the young businessman witnessed firsthand the convenience and popularity of e-bikes in the country, a global leader in manufacturing electric vehicles and bikes.

"Our family has been in the bike business for a long time, so I thought to myself it would be a good idea to bring Chinese e-bikes to Ethiopia," Abiot recalled.

In March 2025, the company opened its first Yadea shop in Addis Ababa, followed by five more outlets in major cities, including Mekelle and Hawassa, in the following months. The shops offer a range of models with driving ranges of 60 to 150 kilometers.

"We are glad to see a 30 percent increase in the sales of our e-bikes during the second half-year compared to the first half-year of operation. During this period, we have also witnessed increased public awareness of e-bikes and their advantages over motorbikes," he said.

In Addis Ababa, riders without driving licenses are required to use bike lanes with a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour, while those with licenses and registered plate numbers are allowed to use main roads at higher speeds.

Abiot, however, raised concerns over the slow issuance of e-bike plates by the government, saying it is a major challenge to market expansion in the capital. He expressed hope that the plate application process could be simplified to enable more people to use e-bikes, thereby reducing reliance on fuel-powered vehicles.

Isayas Fetene, a customer at a Yadea shop in Addis Ababa, told Xinhua that he plans to buy an e-bike for commuting, citing the government's intention to remove subsidies on imported fuel in the near future, which he said would affect owners of fuel-powered vehicles.

"I believe that electric bikes will help save money. I came to buy Yadea brand e-bikes because the company has spare parts available and provides maintenance services after sale," Fetene said.