Accra: The Energy Commission has called on individuals and businesses to register their Electric Vehicles (EVs) with the Commission to ensure proper regulation and avert disasters associated with EV charging, thereby protecting lives and properties.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Commission, in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority, has developed international-standard guidelines for EV charging infrastructure and battery swap systems to ensure safety and system efficiency. Madam Joyce Caitlyn Ocansey, the Drive Electric Programme Coordinator at the Energy Commission, made this announcement during a stakeholder sensitisation event in Wa. The event aimed to raise public awareness about a Draft Electric Vehicle Charging Station and Battery Swap Systems Regulation in Ghana.
The Commission has introduced this regulation to guide the deployment of EV charging infrastructure and battery swap systems nationwide, enforcing international-standard guidelines for EV usage in Ghana. The regulation mandates that prospective EV owners register their vehicles with the Commission as part of efforts to enhance policy planning and safeguard the national electricity grid.
Madam Ocansey highlighted that the draft regulation prescribes minimum technical requirements for both home and workplace charging systems to mitigate fire risks associated with EVs. It specifies socket capacity requirements, including up to 22 kilowatts for workplace charging and 16 kilowatts for home charging.
She indicated that the draft regulation will soon be presented to parliament for approval, making it illegal for anyone to own and use an EV in Ghana without registering it with the Energy Commission. 'If you buy a motorcycle, if you buy a tricycle that is an electric vehicle, kindly reach out to the Energy Commission, inform us about it, and we will guide you through the process to protect you, your family, your community, and Ghana as well', she stated.
Madam Ocansey also assured investors of the government's support in the emerging EV sector, promising an enabling environment for establishing charging infrastructure and battery swap systems.
In a presentation, Dr. Godwin Kafui Ayetor, Consultant to the Energy Commission, explained that the draft EV regulation addresses standards, registration, selling, importation, certification, and operation of EV charging stations and battery swap systems in Ghana. He revealed that the government plans to establish one thousand charging stations across the country by 2028, with an estimated rollout of 30 charging stations per month. A location map is also in development to ensure even distribution of EV charging infrastructure and battery swap systems nationwide.
Dr. Ayetor, also a Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), noted that the National EV Policy projects Ghana's full transition to EVs by 2045. Meanwhile, some participants raised concerns about potential challenges in charging EVs due to uneven electricity distribution and the safe disposal of EV batteries.