Anecdotal Electrification Case Study - Yerevan, Armenia

— Insights from LUSAYIN Founder’s Trip to Yerevan, Armenia —

Roughly two years ago, I was in Yerevan, Armenia, and I was shocked by the number of EVs on the streets. Once I returned, I posted on LinkedIn to share the news.

For those unfamiliar, Yerevan is a post-Soviet city where, for decades, the streets were filled with aging vehicles and diesel buses. Most cars ran entirely on fossil fuels, and many residents even retrofitted their internal combustion engines with propane tanks to save on fuel costs. Black smog from exhaust pipes was a daily sight.

But even two years ago, electrification was visibly underway. I noticed dozens of new EVs, most imported from China, quietly zipping through the city. That alone surprised me.

Fast forward to today, after returning from another visit, I can confidently say: Yerevan has transformed.

The EV saturation is unlike anything I’ve seen or read about, rivaled only perhaps by cities in China. The vehicle fleet in Yerevan now appears majority electric. From sleek crossovers to futuristic sedans, it felt like nearly every other car on the road was an EV.

Most of these vehicles were from Chinese manufacturers, but Tesla’s presence has also grown noticeably, with the Model 3 and Model Y now common sights across the city. Anecdotally, in a random count of 100 cars, roughly 60–70 were electric. Yet, without question, BYD and NIO dominated the streets—proof that China’s EV market has found a powerful foothold far beyond its borders.

I never thought I’d say this, but Yerevan has become a model of electrification, a living case study of what’s possible when affordability, accessibility, and availability converge.

In many ways, it’s a glimpse into what the future of transportation should look like, not just in wealthy nations, but in emerging ones too. If a small post-Soviet city can electrify this fast, than cities across the U.S. without question can.