Barriers and drivers of electric vehicle adoption in African cities: a case study of Lagos, Johannesburg, and Dar es Salaam

Electrification of transportation has become a trend globally in support of sustainable development goals. However, adoption by country and region has been in different forms and at different rates. Electric vehicles (EVs) must be effectively integrated into the system to meet these goals. Therefore, understanding the unique attributes within each region is important. This study focuses on identifying factors impacting EV adoption in African cities with specific focus on the public transport system, particularly the paratransit system, which is the dominant transportation mode in these cities. Qualitative data was obtained through semi-structured interviews targeting transportation experts in the industry and academia. Using NVivo, a qualitative data analysis software, the data was analysed, and factors were identified by coding the interview transcripts into themes and sub-themes. Based on the frequency of coding reference, the three topmost themes identified are infrastructure, policies and incentives, and financial factors. This result can serve as a useful tool for planners and policymakers to establish priorities and as a background for researchers to investigate these individual factors further to ensure smooth transitions in these cities.