How electric mobility can succeed

What sets Jordan apart from some European countries like Germany is that the sheer number of electric cars on the roads has already reached a critical mass. In addition to Norway, Jordan is considered a world pioneer of electric mobility. In 2018 alone, around 18,000 electric cars were on the roads of Jordan, whereas in Berlin only 6,000 were registered!

To make electric vehicles much more attractive, in 2015 Jordan lowered import tariffs and taxes on electric cars to zero. While Jordan is an international pioneer in private e-passenger transport, there is a clear need to catch up on local public transport, long-distance transport, and infrastructure. For example, there are around 500 charging stations for electric cars in Berlin. In contrast, only eight public charging stations are available in Jordan for the approximately 18,000 electric cars! Also, the number of private means of transport is still growing strongly in Jordan. One of the reasons for that is long-distance trips and the public transportation infrastructure.

These different stages of development and challenges in electric mobility make it clear that Jordan and Germany can learn a lot from each other. Therefore, the Regional Climate and Energy Project at FES MENA organized a delegation trip to Berlin in May 2019, which enabled a productive exchange between transport ministries, municipalities and transport companies from Germany.

The follwing report is based on the discussions and recommendations concluded from the Jordanian and Egyptian delegation “The Electrification of Private and Public Transport – Resemblances, Differences and Common Challenges” to Berlin 6-9 May 2019. The delegation was represented by the following institutions:

1. Ministry of Transport (MoT) and Ministry of Environment (MoEnv)
2. Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) and Energy & Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC)
3. Greater Amman Municipality
4. Electric Vehicles Association (EVA) and the Civil Society in Jordan
5. Jordanian Department of Statistics
6. Maan Nasel initiative
7. The Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe

The recommendation on sustainable and electric mobility were given to the new State Secretary Wesam Tahtamouni's of the Ministry of Transport. The Climate and Energy team of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung has passed by in H.E. office and recommended more electric and hybrid buses, that would solve the problem of peak-hour-overcapacity In Jordan.

• Expansion and improvement of the charging network for electronic vehicles Increasing research, education and awareness-raising within the civilian population in favor of the development of alternative and electronic means of transport.
• Pilot projects in public local and long-distance transport.
• Promoting the diversification of means of transport, e.g. of alternatives such as e-bikes or e-scooters.
• Promotion and development of intersectional cooperation (for example cooperation with innovative start-ups in the field of electromobility).

These recommendations have been forwarded to the Jordanian Ministry of Transport and Environment, the Municipality of Amman and the State Electricity Regulatory Authority (EMRC) and jointly discussed at the invitation of the FES Regional Climate and Energy Project. Germany remains an important role model in terms of public transport and diversification and can benefit significantly in other areas from Jordan’s electric mobility.