Tunisia's Path to Greener Fleets: Navigating the Transition to Sustainable Mobility

Introduction

Tunisia, a beacon of cultural and historical richness in North Africa, has increasingly focused on optimizing its corporate fleet management in response to its economic growth and environmental sustainability goals. With its strategic Mediterranean location acting as a crossroads for various civilizations throughout history, Tunisia has developed a unique blend of traditions and modern practices, including in the realm of transportation and logistics.

Geographic and Infrastructure

Geographically, Tunisia is characterized by its accessible Mediterranean coastline and a diverse interior that ranges from mountains in the northwest to the vast expanse of the Sahara desert in the south. This geographical diversity presents unique challenges and opportunities for fleet management, requiring adaptive strategies to navigate the varying terrain and infrastructure. The country's road network facilitates transportation and logistics operations, crucial for the efficiency of corporate fleets.

Economic

As of 2024, Tunisia has a population of approximately 11.965 million, underscoring the significance of efficient transportation and logistics systems to cater to its people and economic activities​​. The Tunisian economy benefits from a diverse base, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services, with the latter including a growing emphasis on information technology and tourism. These sectors demand robust fleet management solutions to support economic growth and ensure the timely delivery of goods and services across the country.

Environmental Considerations

Tunisia's approach to environmental sustainability reflects in its efforts to integrate eco-friendly practices within corporate fleet management. While specific environmental performance indices for Tunisia, such as the EPI 2022, were not directly available, the country's commitment to environmental concerns can be inferred from its policies and initiatives aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and promoting sustainability. Corporate fleets are increasingly encouraged to adopt fuel-efficient vehicles, optimize routes, and adhere to emissions regulations to mitigate environmental impacts.

Introduction to Sustainable Fleet Management and Electrification Efforts

Tunisia is steadily advancing in the realm of sustainable fleet management, particularly through the electrification of vehicles. This commitment is crucial in a country where the automotive landscape is undergoing significant transformation towards more eco-friendly alternatives. The Tunisian government's initiatives, aimed at increasing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), represent a proactive step towards minimizing carbon emissions and enhancing environmental sustainability. These efforts are supported by an array of measures, including the development of necessary infrastructure and financial incentives, to encourage the acquisition and use of electric vehicles. Tunisia's approach reflects a broader global movement towards sustainability, positioning the country as a budding participant in the shift towards cleaner transportation solutions.

Current Vehicle Landscape: Preferences and Powertrain Segments

In Tunisia, the automotive landscape is predominantly dominated by internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with popular brands including Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Suzuki, and Peugeot leading the market. However, there's a nascent but growing interest in more sustainable vehicle options, including BEVs and HEVs, though their market share remains low, reflecting the early stages of Tunisia's transition to electrification. The preference for traditional ICE vehicles is attributed to several factors, including cost, availability, and the existing infrastructure, which is more accommodating to conventional vehicles. Despite these preferences, the Tunisian government's efforts to reduce emissions and promote cleaner transportation options are slowly altering the vehicle landscape, laying the groundwork for a more diversified and sustainable mix of powertrain segments in the future.

Electric Vehicle Market Overview and Trends

The electric vehicle market in Tunisia is in its infancy, with EVs accounting for a minimal percentage of total vehicle sales. Nevertheless, the market is showing signs of growth, evidenced by a 70% increase in the sale of electric and hybrid cars from 2021 to 2022. This growth, although modest, indicates a rising awareness and interest in electric mobility solutions. The government's commitment to boosting the number of electric car users, alongside the installation of charging points and provision of financial incentives, is expected to catalyze further growth in the EV market. These trends suggest that, while the path to widespread EV adoption is challenging, there is a clear movement towards embracing electric and hybrid vehicles, marking the beginning of a significant shift in Tunisia's automotive industry.

Energy Context: Electricity Emission Factors and Implications for Electrification

With a moderate electricity emission factor of 0.468 kg CO2e/kWh, Tunisia is categorized among countries with a mixed energy production portfolio, including renewable sources and fossil fuels. This categorization indicates a relatively low CO2 emission per unit of electricity generated, providing a conducive environment for the electrification of the transport sector. The transition from ICE to BEV vehicles, especially in compact segments, can potentially halve CO2e emissions, aligning with the country's environmental goals. Despite the promising outlook, the current energy context also poses challenges, necessitating strategic planning to optimize the benefits of vehicle electrification against the backdrop of Tunisia's energy landscape.

Challenges and Opportunities in EV Adoption

The road to widespread EV adoption in Tunisia is fraught with challenges, including underdeveloped infrastructure, economic constraints, and low awareness about the benefits of electric mobility. However, these challenges are matched by significant opportunities. The government's proactive stance on developing EV infrastructure, coupled with financial incentives for electric vehicles, lays a strong foundation for growth in the EV sector. Furthermore, Tunisia's moderate electricity emission factor and commitment to renewable energy expansion offer promising prospects for making EVs a viable and environmentally friendly option for transportation. These initiatives, while in the early stages, pave the way for overcoming barriers to EV adoption and highlight Tunisia's potential to transition towards a more sustainable mobility ecosystem.

Additional Insights: Shaping the Future of Transportation

Tunisia's efforts to promote electric vehicles are part of a larger vision for a greener and more sustainable transportation future. The government's initiatives to expand the EV infrastructure, combined with financial incentives and awareness campaigns, are crucial steps towards reducing the country's carbon footprint and aligning with global sustainability trends. As Tunisia continues to navigate the complexities of transitioning to electric mobility, its journey offers insights into the potential for innovation and growth in the face of challenges. The push towards electric vehicles is not merely about adopting new technologies but also about fostering a cultural shift towards environmental responsibility and sustainability in transportation.

The "Base Fleet" percentage is set according to the sales ratio of each powertrain in Tunisia for the year 2023. (For countries where sales ratios cannot be obtained, it is assumed all are ICE vehicles.) The "Recommended Fleet" is designed to be realistic (based on a rank determined by the Electricity Emission Factor Category and EV Readiness Category, deciding a practical range) and efficient in reducing CO2e emissions. It is not expected that the entire fleet will switch to this mix at once but rather after one or two renewal cycles over about 4 to 8 years, considering the usual fleet renewal period is around 4 years. This is viewed as a recommendation for the fleet composition in 4 to 8 years.

The calculation of CO2e emissions is based on a fleet of 100 vehicles traveling an average of 30,000 km per year. Therefore, if your company's fleet size in Tunisia is 1,000 vehicles, multiplying the results by 10 will give you an approximate value. For fuel, it is assumed all vehicles use petrol (2345.02 CO2e g/L), and for electricity, the average emission factor of Tunisia is used. For PHEVs, it is calculated assuming 50% electricity usage and 50% fuel usage.

Analysis of Fleet Transition from Current State to Sustainable Future

This refers to the average CO2e emissions per kilometer calculated based on the actual energy (Fuel and Electricity) used. It also takes into account the size of the vehicles used in Tunisia's fleet.

In Tunisia, transitioning the corporate fleet from its current state to a more sustainable configuration involves a significant shift towards hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), given the country's classification under the "Moderate Emission Countries" due to its mixed energy production methods. Currently, the fleet is overwhelmingly composed of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, totaling 100 units. The proposed transition advocates for a dramatic reduction of ICE vehicles to 12 units, with an increase in HEVs to 88 units, indicating a pivotal move towards sustainability. This approach is shaped by Tunisia's energy context and the very challenging environment for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, evidenced by the extremely low percentage of BEV and HEV sales in recent years.

Given the country's ambitious plans to expand its electric vehicle infrastructure and user base, despite the current low EV adoption rates, the shift towards HEVs as a transitional strategy becomes a pragmatic solution. This plan aligns with Tunisia's broader environmental goals and the global push for reduced carbon emissions in transportation. The transition to a sustainable fleet is not just about replacing ICE vehicles with electric ones; it involves a comprehensive understanding of the local context, including energy sources, infrastructure readiness, and economic factors, making HEVs a more feasible option in the short to medium term.

The transition of Tunisia's corporate fleet towards a more environmentally friendly mix, particularly through the increase in HEVs, is expected to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Initially, the total CO2e emissions from the base fleet mix, dominated by ICE vehicles, stand at 385 tons. The recommended transition to a fleet with a higher proportion of HEVs would lower total CO2e emissions to 300 tons, reflecting a marked improvement in reducing the environmental impact.

The shift from a fleet reliant on ICE vehicles, with their high fuel-based CO2 emissions, to one that includes 88 HEVs, which operate more efficiently and with lower emissions, showcases a strategic approach to leveraging current technology and infrastructure for environmental benefits. This transition not only aligns with global sustainability goals but also positions Tunisia on a path to further emission reductions as the country enhances its EV infrastructure and increases the share of renewable energies in its electricity mix. The proactive measures taken by Tunisia, including infrastructure development and financial incentives for EV adoption, support this transition, although the immediate focus on HEVs reflects the practical challenges and current readiness for a full shift to BEVs.

A comparative analysis of CO2e emissions across different fleet scenarios for Tunisia reveals the impact of various vehicle powertrain configurations on environmental outcomes. The base fleet mix case, heavily reliant on ICE vehicles, results in 385 tons of CO2e emissions. Transitioning to a recommended fleet mix with a higher proportion of HEVs reduces total emissions to 300 tons of CO2e, illustrating the effectiveness of HEVs in lowering emissions within the current Tunisian context.

Exploring hypothetical scenarios, an all-ICE fleet would unsurprisingly result in the highest emissions, mirroring the base case. Conversely, an all-HEV fleet signifies a substantial reduction, with total emissions dropping to 289 tons, highlighting HEVs' role in mitigating emissions effectively. The all-BEV scenarios, particularly when assuming different levels of renewable electricity incorporation, underscore the transformative potential of BEVs in reducing emissions, with totals ranging from 202 tons (current average emission factor) down to 51 tons (75% renewable electricity).

These comparative insights emphasize the significant role that energy sourcing and vehicle technology play in determining fleet emissions. Tunisia's current energy mix and infrastructural challenges necessitate a nuanced approach to fleet transition, where HEVs serve as an immediate step towards lower emissions, paving the way for a future where BEVs can offer even greater environmental benefits as the country progresses towards cleaner energy sources and improved EV adoption infrastructure.