Introduction
Zambia’s growing urban areas face several mobility issues. Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, has an urban population of over 2.5 million, with an urban growth rate of 4.9%. Rapid urbanisation, population growth, and motorisation are major issues to be considered in Lusaka to develop a sustainable transport sector. In Lusaka, 65% walk to their destinations, 23% use minibuses or taxis, 10% use private vehicles, and only 2% use bicycles. The data from this survey highlight the accessibility issues faced by residents, as well as important opportunities for sustainable change if the public transport system is electrified. Zambia does not have a specific strategy for electrifying transport. The 2019 National Transport Policy and the Eighth National Development Plan (2017-2021) have no sections dealing with the adoption of electric vehicles or charging infrastructure. On the other hand, the energy sector in Zambia is being restructured. A target of 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power generation capacity by 2025 is part of the country’s aim to reduce its vulnerability to climate change due to its over-dependence on hydropower. Transport electrification and renewable energy growth have the potential to result in sector coupling, in which the integration of mobility, buildings, and energy can yield beneficial systems that improve urban areas.

Methods
The study utilized policy landscape analysis, techno-economic evaluation, and comparative case studies. Through policy analysis, we reviewed Zambia's National Transport Policy, National Energy Policy, the Eighth National Development Plan, and urban development strategies for Lusaka and other cities to identify regulatory drivers and barriers for e-mobility. The techno-economic analysis compared costs of electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles for applications such as public transport buses and passenger cars, using data on electricity rates, fuel costs, and incentives. Comparative case studies examined electric bus initiatives from African nations, including Kenya's BRT system and South Africa's electric minibus pilots, to identify applicable lessons for Zambia. Sector coupling was explored through scenario modelling involving vehicle-to-grid technologies and solar-powered charging stations. Stakeholder interviews with members of the Zambian Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance, government entities, utilities, and transport operators provided insights into priorities and challenges in the e-mobility landscape.

Results
The present assessment has identified Zambia's specificities and barriers in deploying electric mobility. Policy instruments already implemented by the Zambian government have proven effective: the removal of import duties on EVs increased the number of registered electric vehicles by more than 300% in two years. The inclusion of Zambia in regional EV value chains, such as the tripartite agreement signed by Morocco, DR Congo, and Zambia, represents a means of localising content and stimulating technology transfers. A Total Cost of Ownership analysis shows that EV buses can be economically competitive with diesel buses in Zambia: the lifetime operational cost savings from electrification offset the higher capital cost. Sector coupling with Zambia's power sector, where solar PV deployment is on the rise and electricity networks are still developing, shows major potential for EVs in Zambia, which could help them serve as distributed energy storage units. Among the elements that could hold back further scale-up of electric mobility in Zambia are infrastructure-related factors. The charging infrastructure is still embryonic. The number of public charging points is low, and they are mainly located in Lusaka. The analysis of the barriers to the ZAMBIAeMOBILIZE project also identified barriers related to access to finance, a lack of technical capacity for charging infrastructure maintenance or installation, and a lack of grid connection capacity at locations where charging stations could be installed. Non-motorised transport requires better infrastructure and integrated action to close the missing link between homes and the electrified public transport systems. The NMT Strategy was adopted in 2019, but no further action has been taken to support its deployment, mainly due to a low investment in this mode and a lack of enforcement of the NMT standards.

Conclusions
Electrification of transport is a priority in urban areas where, when combined with integrated land use, urban transport, energy, and building sector planning, it can help Zambia achieve multiple development objectives, including increased mobility, better air quality, climate change mitigation, and a resilient energy sector. Zambia can move towards e-mobility by i) developing and updating transport and other related policies to mainstream electric mobility and EV charging; ii) leveraging concessional finance to procure electric buses and charging infrastructure; iii) enhancing technical skills to maintain the vehicles and manage the grid; iv) planning and investing in non-motorised transport to ensure last mile connectivity for users; and v) electrifying public transport that is used on high-frequency routes in Lusaka. Zambia could prioritise installing EV charging infrastructure at existing or new solar power stations and pilot vehicle-to-grid services. Zambia's rich critical minerals for battery production and value chain linkages with its neighbours can enable the country to tap into electric mobility markets.