By Jamie Watt
Over the past few months, I have noticed something new on my commutes across Erbil: A growing number of electric vehicles are moving quietly through traffic. Not just private cars, but hybrid and fully electric taxis as well — drivers who have calculated that switching to electric power is not only preferable for the environment, but financially smart. With profits tight due to petrol prices, these taxi drivers are saving on gas and keeping more of their earnings at the end of the day.
I recently test-drove a hybrid myself and was impressed. The acceleration was quick, the cabin was noticeably quiet, and the transition between electric and petrol was nearly seamless. Electric vehicles (EVs) have arrived in Kurdistan—and they’re impressive and here to stay. Charging stations are becoming less rare, and the infrastructure around this trend is growing.
It’s commonly thought that electric vehicles only make environmental sense if powered by a fully renewable grid (i.e., solar, wind, or hydro-powered). That is not our situation in the Kurdistan Region — and it does not need to be. Electricity generation in the Kurdistan Region is largely fueled by natural gas, with hydropower contributing a small but meaningful share. Modern gas-fired power plants emit significantly less pollution than thousands of individual petrol engines. Even at higher residential electricity tariffs, the cost per kilometer for electric driving is typically lower than gasoline, and the environmental burden is lower.
In essence, any EV or hybrid is already cleaner, more efficient, and cheaper to use in today’s Kurdistan—let alone in the future.
It is also worth recognizing the progress already made by the Kurdistan Regional Government in expanding reliable, 24-hour electricity and reducing dependence on private, heavy-polluting generators. This generator reduction has already had statistically proven benefits for air quality and public health in Erbil. Continued investment in hydropower and grid modernization strengthens that trajectory.
Vehicle emissions from internal combustion engines directly affect respiratory health, particularly for children and the elderly. Electric vehicles eliminate tailpipe emissions that can easily get trapped in urban environments, affecting thousands. This alone makes the expansion of EVs a public health benefit, in addition to being financially and environmentally beneficial.
As adoption increases, a reinforcing dynamic begins. Greater electric demand encourages further investment in grid stability and cheaper, cleaner electricity. Many countries have accelerated this transition through public policy — adjusting import tax burden, offering incentives, and expanding public charging infrastructure. I remember once the tax benefit of buying an EV in California was so great that some residents claimed it didn’t make sense to buy a traditional petrol car. These policies are economic tools designed to reduce long-term costs and accelerate the transition of the transportation grid to whatever the future holds, most likely an EV-dominant market. Here, we can adapt similar approaches to our own current market and policy realities as a fast-emerging user of electronic transportation.
Kurdistan has shown repeatedly that it can modernize while maintaining stability. Electric and hybrid vehicles represent another step in that direction — a practical, economically sensical move toward cleaner air, lower operating costs, and a more efficient energy system.