Cabo Verde – Electric Vehicles
Promotion of Electric Vehicles in Cabo Verde (ProMEC)
By promoting electric mobility across all nine inhabited islands, the project supported Cabo Verde reduce emissions from the transport sector while strengthening energy security and sustainable economic development. A holistic approach combining finance, infrastructure, policy support, and awareness-raising created the conditions for long-term market growth.
“ProMEC has played a catalytic role
in unlocking investment, accelerating
regulatory progress, and stimulating market uptake for
electric mobility in Cabo Verde. The project clearly demonstrates the
value of strong international partnerships in supporting
the transition to sustainable
transport systems.”
Official completion of the project in 2025
The project successfully supported the emergence of a diversified and increasingly competitive electric mobility market in Cabo Verde. Through the Rebate Programme, 409 electric vehicles and charging stations were financed for private users, companies, and public institutions across seven islands. The project also supported the introduction of electric taxis and electric school buses, expanding electrification into public transport and public service fleets.
To enable nationwide EV uptake, more than 40 public charging stations were installed across all nine inhabited islands, significantly improving accessibility and consumer confidence. At the policy level, the project contributed to key legal and regulatory reforms, including the continuation of fiscal incentives such as VAT and import duty exemptions for EVs until 2028. Further regulatory progress is underway through a draft law decree on electricity provision through public charging stations.
The project also strengthened local technical capacities through specialised EV and safety trainings involving 73 professionals, including female participants, and developed evidence-based planning tools such as an EV-grid impact study to support long-term sector planning. By the project’s conclusion, EVs accounted for 5.4% of all new vehicle registrations in Cabo Verde, surpassing the original project target.
”ProMEC has been a catalyst not only in accelerating electric mobility in Cabo Verde, but also in building the private sector’s confidence to invest beyond the project’s original scope. TECV, for instance, expanded its operations through new investment and strategic partnerships, driven by credibility and visibility generated by the initiative.”
Why this matters
The project demonstrates how targeted climate finance and coordinated policy support can catalyse systemic transformation in the transport sector of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). By simultaneously addressing financial, regulatory, infrastructural, and technical barriers, the project helped establish the foundations for a resilient and scalable electric mobility market in Cabo Verde.
ProMEC illustrates the importance of integrated approaches that combine infrastructure development, market incentives, institutional strengthening, and stakeholder engagement to accelerate low-carbon transport transitions. The project not only contributes to greenhouse gas mitigation and improved energy security, but also supports sustainable economic development and cleaner mobility solutions for communities across the country.