Summary
– In 2023, Light-duty vehicles in the US consumed 7,596 GWh of electricity, with EVs making up 16% of LDV sales
– Uganda’s total electricity generation in 2023 was 6,032.3 GWh, with 95% coming from renewables
– Access to electricity in Uganda is around 45%, with a need to double electricity generation capacity
– The electric mobility sector in Uganda is growing, with companies like GOGO leading in electric motorcycles
– Transitioning to electric vehicles in Uganda while increasing access to electricity and cleaner cooking should be key priorities.
Article
The United States saw a significant increase in electricity consumption by light-duty vehicles in 2023, with a fleet of nearly 5 million EVs consuming 7,596 GWh of electricity, five times more than in 2018. This growth is attributed to the increase in sales of electric vehicles, which accounted for 16% of all LDV sales in 2023. The cumulative sales of plug-in electric vehicles in the USA have reached nearly 5 million. This surge in energy consumption by EVs prompted a comparison with Uganda’s electricity generation, where a total of 6,032.3 GWh was generated in 2023, mainly from hydropower plants, making up 93.4% of the mix, with minimal contributions from solar and thermal technologies.
Despite Uganda’s high reliance on renewable energy sources for electricity generation, access to electricity remains low in the country, with only about 45% of the population having access to electricity. To meet the needs of its growing population and potential industrial demand, Uganda would need to at least double its electricity generation capacity to approximately 13,000 GWh. This calculation does not account for the future demand from an increasing number of electric vehicles in Uganda as the transition to electric mobility gains traction in the country. In response to the need for increased electricity access, there is some activity in the electric mobility sector in Uganda, particularly in the electric motorcycle segment led by companies like GOGO.
As the transition to electric mobility accelerates globally, there is potential for a significant portion of Uganda’s vehicle fleet to shift to electric vehicles, contributing to a cleaner transportation sector. Increasing access to electricity and cleaner cooking should be key priorities for Uganda as it works towards achieving sustainable development goals. By focusing on both increasing electricity access and promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, Uganda can address multiple environmental and social challenges simultaneously. The comparison between electricity consumption by EVs in the USA and Uganda’s electricity generation highlights the need for sustainable energy practices and infrastructure development in both countries to meet growing demand and support the transition to cleaner technologies.
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