Accelerating the transition: a policy and practice review of alternative vehicle adoption and infrastructure readiness in sub-Saharan Africa

Transport decarbonization in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) requires approaches that reflect differences in vehicle use, electricity systems, financing, industrial priorities and institutional capacity. This Structured Policy and Practice Review synthesizes research and policy/practice evidence on alternative vehicle pathways and infrastructure readiness through four purposively selected country cases: Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. It considers electric two- and three-wheelers, electric buses and minibuses, passenger electric vehicles, battery-as-a-service (BaaS), charging and battery swapping, renewable energy integrated charging, compressed natural gas (CNG), and emerging hydrogen applications. Across the cases, adoption is shaped by upfront costs, foreign exchange exposure, electricity access and reliability, local distribution network capacity, charging and refueling availability, battery lifecycle management, and the design and implementation of policy. The evidence suggests that high-utilization commercial fleets may offer early electrification opportunities where duty cycles, financing and charging arrangements are suitable; this is not a universal conclusion, and passenger electric vehicles, public transport electrification and alternative fuels may be relevant in other contexts. Solar plus storage, managed charging, time-of-use tariffs and vehicle-to-grid services should be evaluated against local grid conditions, cost, reliability, lifecycle emissions and regulatory readiness rather than presumed to be preferable. The four cases are illustrative, not statistically representative, and available evidence is insufficient for a defensible cross-country ranking of overall readiness or effectiveness. The review recommends targeted and evaluated incentives, grid-aware infrastructure planning, safe battery reuse and recycling systems, inclusive engagement with informal transport operators, and transparent monitoring of costs and real-world outcomes. It identifies priorities for better comparable fleet data, tropical battery performance evidence, and implementation and end-of-life reporting.