CALSTART's Global Drive to Zero Program and the Netherlands Reveal Latest Global MOU Signatories at Africa e-Mobility Week Event

During Africa E-Mobility Week, CALSTART’s global Drive to Zero program and the Government of the Netherlands shared news that Ethiopia and Mozambique have officially signed the Global Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (ZE-MHDVs). The two African nations join Cabo Verde, Seychelles, and Ghana in signing the ambitious pledge, making a unified call to halt the harmful effects of climate change and air pollution through the adoption of zero-emission commercial vehicles across the continent.

“The Government of Ethiopia has set its vision to achieve a climate-resilient green economy by 2030, a core part of which is transport decarbonization. By actively implementing e-mobility policies with available financial incentives, we hope to see an increase in zero-emission vehicle adoption that will help clean the air and create healthier communities. We are pleased to sign the Global MOU to strengthen our commitment to sustainable transportation and achieving our environmental goals,” Mr. Yizengaw Yitayih, Climate Change Senior Expert, Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Ethiopia.

“We are thrilled and honored to welcome Ethiopia and Mozambique as our latest signatorycountries to the Global MOU. Together with Cabo Verde, Seychelles, and Ghana—our other African signatory nations—Ethiopia and Mozambique are showcasing the importance of setting high ambitions to decarbonize trucks and buses. The commitment to work toward 100 percent zero-emission new truck and bus sales by 2040, and 30 percent by 2030, will revolutionize the way people and goods move through Africa. We are transitioning toward more sustainable economies, healthier air, and safer cities, thereby improving the livelihoods of our communities,” said Marise Meijer, Advisor of International Sustainable Logistics, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management for Government of the Netherlands.

Additionally, at the event Nigerian renewable energy solutions provider Oando Clean Energy, UK-Rwanda-based e-mobility start-up OX Delivers (OX Rwanda Ltd) of OX Global Ltd, and Kenyan electric motorcycle and bus manufacturer Roam were announced as the latest endorsers of the Global MOU. They join an endorser community of over 170 sub-national governments, manufacturers, infrastructure providers, knowledge partners, and other stakeholders.

“For Oando Clean Energy to endorse the Global MOU is in the natural order of things. The African continent is a logistics-based economy, therefore, decarbonizing our transport systems will be a major leap towards the achievement of our net zero agenda,” said Ademola Ogunbanjo, Executive Vice President, Oando Clean Energy.

“At OX Delivers, we are committed to transforming rural transportation in Africa, where 70% of the population lacks access to reliable transport for goods. The OX truck offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution, reducing CO2 emissions while boosting incomes for our customers. By endorsing the Global MOU, we reaffirm our commitment to zero-emission transport and the critical role it plays in improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable development across Africa,” Colin Tebbett, Chairperson, OX Rwanda Ltd.

In response to these achievements, Drive to Zero’s Program Manager, Ricardo Garcia Coyne, stated:

"Global MOU signatories and endorsers are getting the job done. Jospong and ZeroNox's 1,000 electric refuse trucks in Ghana, OCEL's 12,000 electric buses in Nigeria, Ox Delivers' purpose-built electric delivery trucks uniquely suited for transporting goods along unpaved roads...these advancements are truly transformational and will not only move the needle in Africa but impact the global transition to a decarbonized transport future.”

Background on Global MOU Signatories and Endorsers

Under the Global MOU, leading countries commit to working together to enable 100 percent zero-emission new truck and bus sales by 2040, with an interim goal of 30 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2030, to facilitate achievement of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. There are now 38 worldwide signatory nations. 

Endorsers, including knowledge partners, are committed to the Global MOU on ZE-MHDVs as part of a broader effort to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation. By endorsing this non-binding MOU, they commit to working collaboratively to overcome strategic, political, and technical barriers, and to foster investment and economies of scale to make the transition faster, more cost-effective, and accessible for everyone. 

For information on becoming a Global MOU signatory or endorser, visit Drive to Zero’s website.

Drive to Zero | https://globaldrivetozero.org/