Fleet electrification begins for South Africa’s state-owned power company
Eskom has purchased the 20 EVs as part of a wider plan to electrify its entire fleet, which will also see it purchase a further 100 EVs in the “near future”. The company hasn’t stated which OEM it purchased the vehicles from, however it did recently sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with BYD South Africa to support the launch of the BYD Dolphin Surf in the country.
The fleet is being supported by the earlier installation of 10 mixed AC / DC charging stations at five Eskom sites in August 2024. These charging stations feature both DC chargers (up to 60kw) and AC chargers (up to 22kW), and can be used in the daytime by employees or visitors or overnight by fleet vehicles. It hopes to roll out a further 55 public charging stations over the next two years to encourage broader adoption.
All this is linked to a more ambitious scheme to electrify the organisation’s entire fleet by 2035, as well as encourage EV adoption in South Africa more broadly. Eskom Group’s Executive for Distribution, Agnes Mlambo, said: “The launch of these vehicles is not only about mobility, it is about reimagining the energy landscape, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring every community benefits from the transition to sustainable transport.” Dan Marokane, the Eskom Group CEO, added: “We see ourselves as more than just an electricity provider – we are enablers of progress.”
EV adoption in South Africa remains sluggish, accounting for an estimated 1.2 per cent of new car sales in 2025. This is something the country is trying to turn around, particularly given its abundant supplies of raw minerals for EV production.
0 Comments