Egypt Considers Suspension of Chinese Electric Car Imports

 Suspension of Chinese Electric Car Imports

Egypt Considers Suspension of Chinese Electric Car Imports

Sources confirmed that the Egyptian government is currently considering suspending the import of Chinese electric cars with the Chinese charging protocol, with the aim of unifying the European charging protocol.

The sources added that the decision is currently under discussion and is also being sought by various agencies, most notably the Competition and Antitrust Authority. A recent decision was issued by the Electricity Regulatory Authority and Consumer Protection to cancel support for the Chinese charging protocol at fast charging stations in Egypt, relying solely on the European CCS2 charging protocol.

The Electricity Regulatory Authority announced that the decision, which went into effect on April 24, aims to unify charging protocols and enhance public safety at charging stations, as the multiple charging systems for Chinese and European cars have created technical complications and potential risks. They explained that the decision allows the continued charging of Chinese cars via home or slow charging, but that these are no longer enabled at fast charging stations on highways and public service stations.

Companies are now moving towards localizing the electric car industry, given their ease of manufacture compared to fuel-powered vehicles, in addition to their lower operating costs compared to other vehicles. He pointed out that the cost of a single charge, for example, is EGP 80, allowing a car to travel more than 300 kilometers. Furthermore, electric cars do not require periodic maintenance because they run on electricity, which reduces their operating costs.

He called for localizing electric battery manufacturing technology to reduce import bills and save hard currency, which would lower the overall price of the car and help spread it. He also emphasized that the spread of these cars also reduces pollution and reduces the exhaust emissions of fuel-powered vehicles, which is beneficial for health, the environment, and aesthetics.