Thinking about going electric? With gas prices skyrocketing and environmental sustainability becoming increasingly paramount, going down the electric vehicle (EV) route may sound like a compelling move.

For years, EVs were touted as the be-all and end-all of the automotive industry’s future, but the discourse around them has grown polarized as of late — the Financial Times proclaimed that electric cars are not the future, Goldman Sachs described how The future of four wheels is all electric, and the New York Times championed the middle ground, saying that The electric vehicle future is coming. Just a little more slowly.

Is Egypt ready to join the electric revolution? We spoke with a handful of industry veterans to break down the pros and cons of owning an EV, the current state of our infrastructure, and everything in between to help you decide if now's the time to plug in.

THE CHALLENGES-

#1- Egypt’s charging infrastructure is underdeveloped: Three of the four sources we spoke to cited the country’s limited charging infrastructure as the number one challenge facing EV owners in Egypt, deeming it a potential deal-breaker and the reason behind the limited popularity of EVs. There are roughly 300 charging stations in Egypt, said a source at Infinity EV, which runs the largest network in the country — 205 stations and more than 700 charging points across 16 governorates. In contrast, there are over 4k EVs in the country, according to Khaled Saad, head of the Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

This makes long-distance travel difficult. “People considering trips to distant locations such as Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, or Marsa Allam will have to deal with the headache of mapping out where to charge their EVs along the way,” said Abou Ghaly Motors Vice President Tamer Kotb. Models sold through authorized dealers on the local market can travel 450-650 km on a single full charge, he explained, adding that EVs are more suitable for commuting within the city.

EVs rely more heavily on home charging: “EVs are not designed for constant fast charging,” which depletes the battery’s health, said Kotb. “The ideal scenario is to charge your car at home overnight using an EV charging cable. This should cover around 80-85% of your charging needs, while charging stations should provide the remaining 20-25%,” he explained. Most EVs come with a charging cable, but if not, you can purchase one for around USD 400-500. Home chargers use AC, or alternating current, that is transmitted through the national grid, while charging stations points offer AC, the faster direct current (DC), or both.

A SNAPSHOT OF CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE: In addition to full-fledged charging stations, charging points are available at some malls, residential areas, compounds, and some parking lots in commercial spaces. Charging points are mostly concentrated in Greater Cairo and are not widely available in other governorates or on roads between more distant governorates, said Montaser Zaytoun, chairperson of Zaytoun Auto Mall and member of the FEDCOC’s auto division. However, some stations have started to sprout in more eco-conscious cities like Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, Kotb said.

TIP- You can easily locate charging points through a handful of popular charge point operators that offer detailed maps of their charging points via mobile applications:

#2- EVs are typically more expensive than fuel-powered cars, due to their advanced battery and engine technologies, according to Kotb and Saad. Prices can range anywhere between EGP 1.6 mn for a Volkswagen ID4 and EGP 14.5 mn for a Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.

#3- And tend to offer lower resale values than ICE cars due to lower demand, impacting the overall return on investment, Kotb said. This should be factored into the long-term financial analysis of purchasing an EV.

#4- It could take hours to charge an EV: The exact time it takes to charge an EV depends on several factors, including battery size, battery health, and charging type (AC or DC). It usually takes 4-6 hours to charge an EV from 20% to 80% using AC charging, and 45 minutes using a DC fast charger, our Infinity EV source said. A full home charge using AC takes around 8-10 hours, Saad said.

#5- Insufficient government incentives: Despite plans by several companies to localize the production of EVs, the government has not provided sufficient support, said Zaytoun. “Given current electricity challenges, a surge in EV numbers would further strain the national grid. Are we prepared to accommodate this increased demand?” Zaytoun questioned, adding that the Electricity Ministry should develop a comprehensive plan to keep pace with the global EV trend. Local EV production can only materialize once the government's automotive strategy is implemented, incentives are introduced, import duties on manufacturing components are scrapped, and feeder industries are developed, Zaytoun explained.

THE BENEFITS-

#1- Electricity is cheaper than gasoline, resulting in substantial savings over the vehicle's lifetime. All charging stations levy a government-regulated rate of EGP 1.89/kWh for AC charging and EGP 3.75/kWh for DC fast charging, our Infinity EV source told us. In the meantime, fuel costs stand at EGP 17.0 per liter for 95-Octane, EGP 13.75 per liter for 92-Octane, and EGP 12.25 per liter for 80-Octane. It would take EGP 122.85 to fully charge a 65 kWh EV battery using AC charging or EGP 243.75 for DC fast charging, compared to the EGP 688 needed to fill up a 50-liter fuel tank on an ICE car using 92-Octane fuel.

#2- EVs have lower maintenance costs: EVs have fewer consumables — items that need to be replaced regularly such as engine oil, filters, spark plugs, and brake pads — compared to ICE cars, resulting in lower maintenance and repair costs, Kotb told us. Taking fuel into account, the operating expenses of EVs are all in all nearly 90% lower than those of their fuel-guzzling counterparts. If you opt for an EV that is 25% more expensive than a fuel-powered alternative, you can recoup that differential within three years just by saving up on operating costs, he added.

#3- And deliver a smoother performance: EVs offer a smoother driving experience due to a number of factors, including the instant torque delivery afforded by electric motors and regenerative braking systems that provide controlled deceleration. They’re also much quieter, seeing as they do away with the engine revving associated with combustion engines and contain fewer moving parts.

#4- And let’s not forget about the environmental benefits: EVs produce no tailpipeemissions, the pollutants released into the atmosphere from the exhaust system of ICE vehicles, since they don’t burn fuel. While battery production does generate carbon emissions, their carbon footprint is around 65% lower than that of petrol cars.

ARE EVS REALLY THE FUTURE?

There seems to be a bit of a shift in sentiment: “I don’t think the large-scale adoption of EVs is as imminent as we initially thought it would be,” said Kotb. Four or five years ago, we had expected EVs to make up 50% of car sales by today. This delay indicates that we still have a ways to go. Global EV manufacturers had been focusing their R&D efforts on three primary objectives: producing zero-emission vehicles, minimizing EV charging time, and maximizing range.

The growing prominence of green hydrogen in recent years has shifted the focus, Kotb explained. Manufacturers are now slowing research on battery technology and exploring the potential of retaining traditional engine designs while transitioning to green hydrogen as they work on finding ways to slash emissions.

But there are some environmental caveats: EV batteries last 10-15 years, Kotb said. “This is an environmental crisis because the batteries contain toxic materials, and disposing of them safely has emerged as a challenge over the past 10 years.” Lithium-ion batteries also hurt the environment, because extracting the lithium and other toxic metals that go into their production generates CO2, as does the manufacturing process.

IN THE UPCOMING WEEKEND GUIDE- We’ll delve into the models on the market, their prices, and where to find them.

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