Tunisia offers cash bonus to switch to electric vehicles

Reuters/Zoubeir Souissi

• Aims to reach 130,000 EVs by 2030
• Environment Ministry plans for 500 charging stations
• Targets will lead to a decrease in oil consumption of 5.9m barrels

Motorists in Tunisia are being offered bonuses of TD10,000 ($3,200) per car to make the switch to electric vehicles as the government looks to accelerate its sustainability efforts.

A survey carried out by Tunisia’s Environment Ministry said that reaching 50,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025 and 130,000 by 2030 will save 2.2 million tonnes of CO2.

It is also aiming to reach 500 charging stations for EVs across Tunisia, against just over 50 at present. 

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The 2023 Finance Law dropped customs duties applied to charging stations from 43 percent to 10 percent, lowering the VAT applied from 19 percent to 7 percent.

The 130,000 EVs target will lead to a decrease in oil consumption of 5.9 million barrels, according to the survey.

A second component of the project will see feasibility studies and pilot projects of low-carbon e-mobility solutions in the cities of Bizerte and Sfax and on the island of Djerba.

A third element looks at building up expertise in the sector through work with universities and vocational training centres.

Global electric car sales are expected to surge 35 percent this year to 14 million, according to the International Energy Agency. They will comprise 18 percent of the passenger car market, up from just 4 percent in 2020.