Call for Articles: Special Issue on Decarbonising African Public Transport

The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) invite researchers, industry experts and policymakers to contribute to a special issue of African Transport Studies, focusing on the electrification of public transport across Africa. This special issue, “Planning for the Electrification of Transport in Africa,” addresses the urgent need for decarbonising Africa’s public transport systems as a key step toward a sustainable, low-emission future.

Building on insights from the recent IAP-NASAC report, Decarbonisation of Transport in Africa - Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Options, the issue calls for original research articles, case studies and review papers that explore the technological, economic, social and environmental aspects of transitioning African public transport to electric vehicles (EVs). This collaboration aligns with IAP and NASAC's commitment to facilitating a just energy transition and supports sustainable development goals across the continent.

Topics of Interest:

Researchers are encouraged to address themes including, but not limited to:

• EV Technology and Operations: Innovations in EVs for Africa’s diverse public transport fleet, driver behaviors and charging patterns.
• Infrastructure Development: Planning and deployment of EV charging infrastructure in urban and rural areas.
• Business Models: Innovative models that support EV adoption and the transition’s economic viability.
• Grid Capacity and Energy Supply: The impact of EVs on Africa's power grid and solutions for stable energy provision.
• Economic and Environmental Impact: Cost-benefit analyses of EV adoption and environmental impact assessments.
• Policy and Governance: Frameworks needed to facilitate EV transitions within public transport systems.
• Social Equity: Ensuring inclusive and accessible benefits from the electrification process.
• Behavioral and Cultural Considerations: Understanding socio-cultural influences on EV adoption in public transport.

Submission Information:

Articles are due by 30 June 2025 and should be submitted through the African Transport Studies submission system under the article type "VSI: Electrification of Transport."

This special issue represents an exciting opportunity for researchers to contribute to Africa’s green transformation and support IAP and NASAC’s ongoing work to drive climate resilience through scientific and policy insights.

For more details on submission requirements, please visit the African Transport Studies journal website here.

Read more about the IAP-NASAC project on Decarbonisation of Transport in Africa here.