Need for Supportive Policies and Regulations to Reduce Electric Vehicle Costs in Tanzania
Latest Tanzania politics news · Need for Supportive Policies and Regulations to Reduce… explained · updated Aug 4, 2026 · politics news · government · policy
TLDR
- He explains that most Tanzanians currently purchase petrol-powered vehicles manufactured between 2002 and 2009 because they are considerably cheaper.
- Electric vehicles, however, are largely 2024 and 2025 models, placing them in a price category that many households cannot afford.
- Charging an electric vehicle for the approximately 450-kilometre journey between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma costs about 30,000/- compared with roughly 120,000/- in petrol for a conventional vehicle consuming around 30.
- Studies in the United States similarly show that travelling approximately 483 kilometres costs about 35 US dollars using petrol compared with roughly 7.50 US dollars for a small electric vehicle covering the same.
- He also welcomes the government’s decision to reduce import duty on selected electric vehicles from 25 per cent to 10 per cent but believes additional incentives and financing mechanisms are needed to stimulate demand.