Egypt lacks infrastructure to run electric cars: FEI

CAIRO – 31 March 2018: Egypt does not have the adequate infrastructure that allows the running of eclectic cars, Deputy President of the Federation of Egyptian Industries' (FEI) transport division Samir Allam said Saturday.

He said that the country does not have enough stations for charging electric cars, which could run for a maximum of 300 kilometers on a single charge.

Allam said that the lack of enough stations to charge these cars would mean that they will be used inside a limited geographical area, which is not practical for any car owner.

Egypt has only one station for charging electric cars, which was inaugurated recently near the new administrative capital on the Cairo-Sokhna road, Allam said.

He added that although these cars do not use gasoline or diesel-powered engine, they rely indirectly on fuel as it will be used to operate the stations. He said that these cars could also overload the electricity grid.

On the impact of electric cars on the Egyptian car market, Allam said that they will not affect car sales in Egypt because they are expensive cars that would be used among specific segments.

On Saturday, Trade Minister Tarek Kabil issued a decision that allows the imports of used electric cars, on condition that they are no more than three years old.

Kabil said in a statement that the rules for importing cars in general do not allow the imports of used cars, but an exception has been made for electric cars to encourage the use of these environment-friendly vehicles.

He added that his ministry is keen on encouraging the manufacturing of electric cars in Egypt, especially after launching a network for the transport and maintenance of electric cars in the country.