- Editor: Nour El Badawi
- Photographer: Judi Yassin
For decades, Cairo has faced rising air pollution and fuel consumption, which the World Bank states is “almost 10 to 15 times higher than the safe limits set by the World Health Organization.”
A 2022 report from Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum revealed a 6% annual increase in fuel consumption over the previous five years, driven by population growth and expanding urbanization.
Not surprisingly, many may find the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) to be Egypt’s best bet to cleaner air quality. The World Bank and other organizations also see this as a possible solution.
EVs are usually advertised as an environmentally friendly substitute for vehicles that run on gasoline. According to a 2025 UN report, EVs offer a cleaner alternative in Cairo, where the air is heavily polluted by emissions and other contaminants.
In a 2025 report by Clean Air Fund Research, the world’s largest philanthropically-funded organisation dedicated to tackling air pollution, “the primary source of PM2.5 air pollution in the greater Cairo area is road transport (33%).”
Additionally, according to the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), EVs have the potential to cut Egypt’s carbon footprint and long term fuel expenses.
“As global attention shifts towards sustainability and carbon emissions reduction, the Egyptian market is gradually aligning with these global trends. EVs are more eco-friendly than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers and organizations looking to reduce their carbon footprint,” the report stated.
Even at the university level, interest in sustainable, eco-friendly transportation is growing. Yasmin Mansour, the director of the American University in Cairo’s (AUC) Sustainability Office, believes that electric vehicles improve the campus’ carbon footprint.
“If more students at AUC switched to electric vehicles, we’d see a big reduction in our campus’ carbon footprint. Students can really take responsibility for their impact by driving electric vehicles, or even carpooling, which contributes significantly to transportation emissions,” she told The Caravan.
The growing interest in EV’s suggests they could play a larger role in the future of Egypt’s transportation system. As awareness and accessibility expand from university campuses to broader communities, a shift toward more sustainable mobility may be within reach.
Despite their sustainability potential, EVs remain excessively costly for most Egyptians.
According to DailyNews Egypt, the minimum wage in Egypt is 7,000 EGP and the average annual salary is around EGP 171,800, as of 2025. Even with cheaper options, EVs priced over 1 million EGP are out of reach for most.
A standard vehicle such as Nissan Sunny, one of Egypt’s most popular cars, costs about EGP 700,000, which is out-of-budget for many families.
Maurice Ghattas, senior engineer at Porsche Egypt, believes that EVs, such as Porsche Taycan, currently appeal only to a specific demographic.
“Some buyers are looking for technology and are environmentally conscious, but they also have the income to support it. EVs are still several years away from being a practical choice for the average Egyptian,” he told The Caravan.
Since EVs will require regular electric power, accessibility to charging stations is still a challenge. EVs owners still have difficulties with driving long distances and finding charging options, especially outside of Cairo. According to AlAhram, The Egyptian government is expected to install 3,000 charging stations nationwide, but the implementation is slow.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has expressed support for Egypt’s EV industry. In November 2024, while addressing local investors, he said, “if you want to manufacture electric vehicles in Egypt, we are prepared to engage in this sector to ensure that the industry is not a burden on investors.”
He added, “While we may have missed the traditional car manufacturing boom, the entire world is now focusing on electric vehicles. We said we’re ready to offer incentives that make the electric car industry successful in Egypt, including establishing headquarters for companies with a designated state fund of EGP 100 billion.”
According to local media reports, Egypt launched its first locally assembled electric vehicle, the E70 model, in 2024, through El Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Company in collaboration with China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation. However, only limited batches have been produced so far, and mass production has not been completed.
According to a 2025 TechSci Research report, without wider access to charging stations and more affordable pricing, the market for EVs will remain niche. While there is growing interest in electric vehicles, the current demand remains concentrated among wealthier Egyptians, making the sustainability of local EV production uncertain for now.
“The idea is not just to reduce emissions, it’s about expanding the possibility where sustainable transportation is easily accessible. Even outside of central Cairo, we are working to increase the availability and ease of charging.” said Tamara El Sewedy, who works in sustainability at ElSewedy Electric, a company installing mobile charging stations.
She told The Caravan that rather than being a response to current demand, this expansion is more of a strategic step.
“Right now, we are building the stations to encourage buyers, not because there’s already massive demand,” said El Sewedy, “We believe if it is more accessible, people will be more inclined to buy EVs in the future.”
AUC and ElSewedy are attempting to incorporate EVs into daily life for sustainability and long term fuel saving. But without substantial affordability reforms, these cars may only serve a niche group of people rather than become Egypt’s main form of transportation.
While EVs offer cheaper operational costs in the long run, the upfront price remains an issue. The pricing gap between average Egyptian salaries and beginner prices of EVs means that they are a luxury for a small segment of society, rather than a mainstream option.
As for initiatives to make EVs more affordable or encourage people to buy them, there have been discussions about potential government subsidies and tax breaks to help reduce the high initial cost of electric vehicles, according to a 2025 report by Egyptian Streets. However, these programs are still in early stages and have yet to significantly lower the financial barrier for most Egyptians. According to a TechSci 2025 report, without more widespread incentives or substantial changes in pricing, EVs will likely remain out of reach for many.
“The infrastructure and purchasing power issues make it difficult for mass consumption at this stage,” said Ghattas. “Without stronger financial support or significant reductions in EV prices, electric cars will be a luxury for a small segment, but not a solution for the many.”
