Combining Electric Vehicles and Solar Energy for Sustainable Informal Public Transportation in Uganda

Minibus taxi public transport represents a dynamic and integral component of urban mobility in many developing cities across the Global South, characterized by distinct operational and travel patterns. As these widespread fleets of minibus taxis inevitably transition to electric vehicles (EVs), it becomes crucial to assess the potential impacts on urban infrastructure and sustainability. This study focuses on Kampala, Uganda, using a comprehensive simulation framework to evaluate the implications of integrating EVs within the paratransit system. By analyzing floating car data, we estimate the energy demands of electric minibus taxis and their implications for the region’s already fragile electrical grid. Additionally, we perform spatio-temporal and solar photovoltaic (PV) analyses to identify viable locations for charging infrastructure utilizing the region’s abundant solar resources. The findings reveal that the median energy requirement for the fleet is approximately 220 kWh/day, with a peak of 491 kWh/day. Charging availability during stationary periods ranged between 8 and 12 hours daily, while solar PV potential varied from 0.24 kWh/m² to 0.52 kWh/m² per day. These results provide a valuable tool for traffic planners and energy policymakers to strategically plan for the adoption of EVs in Africa’s most-utilized transportation mode, fostering sustainable and resilient urban mobility systems.