Samer Adnan Zawaydeh
Independent Engineer | Industrial Fellow
Speaker
Track C: Decarbonization and Electrification
Session C4: Fleet Electrification in Action: Design, Deployment, and Operational Resilience
September 19, 2025 | 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Fleet Electrification in Jordan: Pathways to Sustainable Mobility and Operational Efficiency
Jordan initiated its transition to electric vehicles (EVs) in 2014, and by the end of 2024, it is projected that approximately 10% of passenger vehicles in the country will be electric. This significant increase in EV adoption has prompted the government to revise regulations multiple times within the past year to support this shift.
Electric vehicles are not only economically advantageous but also environmentally friendly. In Jordan, over 30,000 taxis operate through mobile applications, primarily driven by young university students and professionals seeking additional income. Decarbonizing this taxi fleet presents a cost-effective opportunity for vehicle owners, contributing to both economic savings and environmental benefits.
This paper will explore the economic, environmental, and social impacts of decarbonizing the taxi fleet in Jordan. It will provide a comprehensive case study that can serve as a model for other oil-importing countries facing similar challenges, highlighting best practices and potential strategies for successful EV integration.
Keywords; Decarbonization, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Economic Impacts, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, Infrastructure Development.
Speaker Bio
Samer Zawaydeh. Over 25 years' experience in the development of projects in the energy sector, educator, trainer and public speaker. He was the project manager for tens of projects that required extra heavy steel structure for power plants, refineries, air-cooled condensers, SCR units, pipelines, tanks and other facilities.
As a National Energy Expert working for international consultants for the World Bank, he contributed to a study on “Smart Grid Options in Jordan”, involving deep dives into laws and regulations, providing technical advice to stakeholders, and reviewing aspects of the Jordan Power Sector. He contributed to a study on “Options for a National E-Mobility Strategy in Jordan”, which included analyzing policy incentives for e-mobility and developing an e-mobility uptake strategy. Also, worked on developing a “Long-Term Low-carbon and Climate Resilient Strategy in Jordan”. As a lecturer at Al Hussein Technical University, he is teaching “Energy Policy, Regulation, and Economics Course”. As a National Energy Expert for the UNDP, he developed an “ESCO Accreditation Scheme for Jordan”, including conducting surveys and analyzing the results to develop an energy services market. He worked on “Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in rural areas of the Arab Region (REGEND)” with the UNESCWA, Carbon Markets and Carbon Financing with South Pole, and the “Renewable Readiness Assessment, Jordan 2020 – 2025” Report issued by IRENA. He developed numerous studies in energy efficiency, economics, energy poverty, climate resilience and e-mobility.
He has been working in the renewable energy sector since 2010, and worked on developing over 250 solar PV projects in different sectors. He trained and administered the training of more than 4,000 AEE certifications. He is an invited public speaker in energy, climate resilient and carbon reduction at universities, energy & climate and academic conferences worldwide. Samer is an AEE Fellow, Lifetime AEE member, was the President of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) in 2020, trainer for the Carbon Reduction Manager Course, and has established 36 AEE Chapters across the world.