Maseru powers up

‘MaZero’ project drives Lesotho’s electric future

MOSA MAOENG

MASERU – In a landmark development for sustainable transport in Southern Africa, the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) is partnering with the National University of Lesotho Energy Research Centre (NUL-ERC) and local NGO Technologies for Economic Development (TED) to pilot “MaZero,” a renewable energy-based e-mobility initiative aimed at decarbonising Lesotho’s transport sector.

This innovative project, named as a combination of “Maseru” and “Zero” (aiming for zero emissions), marks the first substantive implementation of electric mobility in the country. It involves the development and deployment of solar PV battery-powered charging and swapping stations to support a nascent fleet of electric vehicles (EVs), including cars and motorbikes.

In an interview with Public Eye this week, TED Director, ‘Mantopi Lebofa, said the initiative is a critical step in the transition away from fossil fuel dependency.

“I believe that those countries are planning ahead in terms of what will happen after peak oil,” Lebofa stated.

“We are working towards clean energy and eliminating anything that could lead to climate change. Our aim is collaboration with relevant partners to put Maseru towards zero emitting.”

Currently, Lesotho has three operational electric cars sourced from the EU, the UN, and the MaZero project, alongside six electric motorbikes awaiting registration. The project is not merely about vehicles but creating an entire ecosystem.

The involvement of Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt is particularly significant. THI is recognized as one of Germany’s foremost universities of applied sciences, renowned globally for its automotive engineering and energy research.

Based in the heart of Germany’s automotive region, THI operates state-of-the-art facilities such as the CARISSMA research centre for vehicle safety and the InES institute for new energy systems.

The university currently hosts over 300 scientists researching sustainable mobility, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy integration. This technical firepower is now being deployed to solve Lesotho’s unique transport challenges. The partnership bridges the gap between German industrial precision and local contextual knowledge, providing vital capacity building for Basotho engineers.

During a presentation at the project’s awareness launch, NUL lecturer, Moruti Kao, broke down the mechanics and benefits of the transition.

“E-mobility encompasses all the different types of e-vehicles – cars, motorcycles, bicycles, buses, and electrified rail,” Kao explained. “EVs are powered partially or entirely by electric power stored in a rechargeable battery.”

Kao provided a stark economic comparison to demonstrate the cost benefits. Factoring in local electricity prices at M2.30 per kilowatt-hour versus fuel at M20 per litre, he noted that an electric vehicle costs approximately M29.90 to travel 100 kilometres, compared to M130 for a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle.

Beyond cost savings, EVs offer zero tailpipe emissions, higher reliability, and reduced maintenance requirements compared to conventional engines.

Despite the enthusiasm, Kao acknowledged significant hurdles, chief among them “range anxiety” – the fear of running out of battery without a charging station in sight.

“Addressing this concern requires a comprehensive and accessible network of charging stations,” Kao said.

“Strategically locating charging stations requires meticulous assessment of the convenience of EV drivers and the structure of the road network.”

For a country like Lesotho, which frequently experiences load-shedding and grid instability, the reliability of an electricity-dependent mobility system remains a question. Kao noted that a large-scale transition raises a “conflict of interest” between the need to power communities lacking basic electricity access and the desire to charge vehicles.

Lesotho joins a growing list of developing nations betting big on electric vehicles to leapfrog the polluting phases of industrial development. Ethiopia, in particular, serves as a continental trailblazer.

In a world-first policy move, Ethiopia banned the import of non-electric passenger vehicles in early 2024. The government slashed taxes on fully assembled EVs to 15 percent – and to zero for locally assembled units – while hiking duties on used petrol cars. By late 2025, over 115,000 EVs were on Ethiopian roads, driven largely by affordable Chinese brands like BYD, Chang’an, and Geely.

However, Ethiopia’s rapid transition highlights the growing pains of early adoption. While the government aims to install 2 300 charging stations, current infrastructure remains concentrated in Addis Ababa, with fewer than 500 operational units nationwide.

Furthermore, over 45 percent of Ethiopian households lack reliable electricity access, mirroring the “conflict of interest” challenges Lesotho must navigate.

On the international stage, Lesotho’s grassroots pilot project operates against a backdrop of global logistical turbulence. In the maritime shipping industry – which accounts for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gases – progress toward net-zero by 2050 remains fragmented.

Industry analysts note that while the International Maritime Organization (IMO) maintains net-zero ambitions, 2026 is shaping up to be “a year of pragmatic, compliance-safe decisions by owners and charterers” rather than breakthrough transformations. The global rulebook on carbon pricing, fuel eligibility (e.g., LNG vs green ammonia), and infrastructure readiness remains sharply divided between developed and developing economies.

For landlocked Lesotho, these international frameworks matter deeply, as the nation relies entirely on regional corridors – primarily through South Africa – for fuel imports. The volatility of global fuel supply chains reinforces the urgency of the MaZero project’s goal – energy sovereignty through renewables.

The MaZero project distinguishes itself through its specific focus on social inclusion. A core goal of the initiative is the empowerment of women as active stakeholders in Lesotho’s renewable energy-based e-mobility sector.

According to NUL-ERC documentation, the project aims to break barriers in access and participation for women, many of whom work in factories in Maseru and rely on reliable, safe, and clean transport.

Additionally, the project will foster local expertise through curriculum development at the NUL, ensuring that the skill set required to maintain and expand the EV network is home-grown.

The implementing partners – THI, NUL-ERC, and TED – emphasise that MaZero is more than a pilot; it is the cornerstone of a national e-mobility roadmap. Stakeholders have already agreed to establish a national task team to drive initiatives forward, integrating e-mobility topics into school curricula to help young Basotho seize technological opportunities.

As Moruti Kao concluded in his technical presentation, “Addressing the multifaceted challenges of EV charging infrastructure requires a comprehensive approach integrating education and awareness, policy and legislative frameworks, technological innovation, and sustainable energy solutions.”

For now, the three electric cars and six motorbikes of the MaZero fleet represent more than vehicles – they are the opening charge in Lesotho’s race toward a cleaner, quieter, and more self-sufficient future.