In this episode, Energy Policy Advisor and Development Economist Johannes Huber joins us to explore his journey from development economics to practical energy projects in South Africa, and his deep insights into Ethiopia’s unique geography and electrification efforts. We cover:

• Johannes’s background and the international perspective he brings to energy policy and smart charging.

• Ethiopia’s extreme altitude range (–150 m to 5 000 m) and its impact on transport and aviation.

• The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) – a 74 billion m³ reservoir with over 5 000 MW potential, more than double Ethiopia’s current output:

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/3/ethiopias-pm-abiy-ahmed-says-mega-dam-gerd-on-the-nile-now-complete

• The challenge of deploying reliable charging infrastructure in a country with only two major EV charging parks in Addis Ababa.

• A closer look at one of those charging parks in action:

  https://www.tiktok.com/@micki_aweke2/video/749099208535341803

• The abundance of renewables in Ethiopia and why smart charging and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) will be crucial to making clean energy accessible and affordable.

Tune in to learn how bold policy moves and technological innovation are paving the way for a more sustainable transport future in one of Africa’s fastest-growing markets.