I-Smart laid the groundwork for a national charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Morocco in 2021, with a production unit in Benguerir. Although the unit can produce over 5,000 charging stations annually, only about 120 have been installed in Morocco to date. Nonetheless, I-Smart's goals are ambitious: to promote sustainable mobility, develop a national charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, and achieve technological sovereignty in this domain.
This initiative stems from a collaboration between the company EDEEP and the sustainable energy project incubation platform, Green Energy Park, supported by IRESEN and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. The Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, as well as the OCP group, have also lent their support to this innovative project.
Customization and availability of i-Smart charging solutions
Despite efforts, the Moroccan market for electric vehicles and charging stations remains emergent. Currently, only about 500 electric vehicles are in circulation in Morocco, and the high price of these vehicles poses a barrier to widespread adoption. Additionally, negative perceptions of electric vehicles, particularly due to concerns about insufficient charging stations, hinder their adoption.
Nevertheless, I-Smart offers several advantages. The quality of its charging station installations is praised by customers, as is its software platform for station management, offering remote management and real-time supervision. Furthermore, the proximity, customization, and availability of i-Smart charging solutions are differentiating factors in the market.
However, logistical and operational challenges persist, particularly concerning financing and regulation. The absence of government subsidies and tax exemptions makes it challenging for local products to compete with imported stations. Moreover, the sale of electricity through charging stations is not yet regulated, limiting their utility.
Despite these obstacles, the electric vehicle market in Morocco presents significant potential, especially with the ongoing decline in lithium-ion battery prices. With its ambitious renewable energy goals, Morocco is well-positioned to become a major player in electric mobility. However, this requires increased government support, particularly in terms of regulation and integrated policies to foster the adoption of this emerging and promising technology.
In Africa, the development of e-transport is also gaining momentum, with several countries on the continent investing in charging infrastructures for electric vehicles. Similar initiatives to I-Smart's are emerging in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, where local and international companies are collaborating to promote electric mobility. E-transport offers significant benefits in Africa, including reducing dependence on fossil fuels, improving air quality in densely populated urban areas, and promoting economic development through job creation in the renewable energy sector. However, logistical and financial challenges remain significant, notably due to the lack of adequate charging infrastructure over long distances and the need to develop innovative financing solutions to make electric vehicles more accessible to African populations. Despite these challenges, e-transport represents an immense opportunity for the continent, and increased cooperation between governments, the private sector, and international organizations is essential to fully exploit its potential and accelerate the transition to more sustainable mobility in Africa.