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China-Africa Trade Information Service
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Morocco is set to open 2,500 charging stations for electric vehicles by 2026, with the facilities mainly clustered in major cities like Tangier, Rabat, and Casablanca.
Spearheading the operation is Morocco’s Intersectorial Association for Electric Mobility (APIME), a state institution created in 2023 that aims to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility solutions.
The opening of electric charging stations is expected to incentivize more consumers to buy electric vehicles.
The lack of charging stations remains one of the primary challenges hindering the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. In a poll conducted by the Economist, respondents cited “range anxiety” -- the fear of not finding where to charge electric vehicles -- as the primary reason for their reluctance to opt for them, followed by the high prices of electric cars.
While the cost of electric vehicles is expected to drop thanks to mass production, many predict that the scarcity of charging stations will linger the effect of “range anxiety.”
In recent years, Morocco saw a significant increase in the number of charging stations. In 2021, the world’s largest electric car manufacturer Tesla installed several charging stations throughout Casablanca.
The country has also set up ambitious manufacturing targets to become part of the transition to electric cars. In September 2022, Morocco’s Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour said that the country will double its production capacity over the coming two years.
Electric car production is expected to reach 100,000 units annually in the span of two to three years, double the current production input, the minister told Asharq Business, a MENA-focused news outlet.