Electric Vehicles: Mandatory Charging from Renewable Energy Sources Announced by Assirvaden

Electric vehicle charging might soon become mandatory from renewable energy sources. On Tuesday, April 21, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Patrick Assirvaden, presented an overview of the energy consumption of electric vehicles in Parliament while announcing upcoming measures to enhance their renewable energy supply.

In response to a question from Rodrigues MP, Jacques Edouard, the minister indicated that the average daily consumption of electric vehicles in Mauritius was 21,723 kWh for March 2026, distributed among a total of 2,260 customers registered with the Central Electricity Board (CEB). In Rodrigues, where charging infrastructure was recently launched on March 30, 2026, consumption is estimated at 3.5 kWh per day for a single currently registered user.

Patrick Assirvaden emphasized that the CEB is implementing three programs aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy for charging: the solar photovoltaic program, a preferential rate during off-peak hours, and initiatives for businesses and public charging service providers. These measures aim to reduce CO₂ emissions in the transport sector and accelerate the decarbonization of the national electricity grid.

In this context, electric vehicle owners can install photovoltaic systems with a maximum capacity of 10 kW and feed surplus electricity back into the grid. To date, 93 connections have been made, representing an installed capacity of 2,700 kW.

However, these installations remain optional. The minister announced that his department plans to make it mandatory for electric vehicles to be powered by renewable sources, considering it inconsistent to promote electric vehicles while relying on fossil fuels.