Dar es Salaam: The Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy, Engineer Felchesmi Mramba has said that research shows that driving an electric car in the country is about 85% cheaper per kilometer compared to a car that uses petrol or diesel.
Mramba said on March 06, 2026 in Dar es Salaam during the official launch of the use of electric vehicles in the country through the company DOW ELEF AUTO EV (ZERA) Limited.
He said that an average car that uses oil can cost about Sh.200 per kilometer, while an electric car costs only about Sh.25 per kilometer.
“This cost clearly shows that electric vehicle technology is more affordable and can help citizens reduce spending in the transport sector,” said Engineer Mramba.
He has explained that the launch is an important step in the reform of the transport sector in the country and is in line with the efforts of the Sixth Phase Government under President Dr. Samia Luluhu Hassan to promote investment and encourage the use of clean energy technology.
Engineer Mramba said the Government has already created an enabling environment for the development of the technology by adopting the National Electric Vehicles Policy Framework in December 2024.
He said the policy aims to encourage the production of electric vehicles in the country, increase their use, connect the sector with renewable energy as well as build infrastructure for charging stations for these vehicles.
He said Tanzania has continued to make progress in electricity production where the capacity has increased to more than 4,500 megawatts, with the availability of electricity reaching 85.5 percent in 2025.
According to Mramba, the move aims to strengthen various economic sectors, including modern transportation that is affordable and environmentally friendly.
Africa currently has more than 30,000 electric vehicles, with East Africa emerging as a center of innovation in the sector.
In Tanzania, it is estimated that there are already more than 10,000 electric vehicles, including motorcycles and other two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles.
The director of DOW ELEF AUTO EV (ZERA) Limited, Emmanuel Kazimoto, said the company has started with a plan to import fully electric vehicles, before starting to bring plug-in vehicles to the country.
He added that the future goal is to establish a factory to assemble electric vehicles in the country, a step that will stimulate employment and build Tanzanian youth skills in modern technology.
