17 April 2023: South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) market has been slow to take off due to several
factors, such as high upfront costs, limited availability of EV models and a lack of charging
infrastructure.
This is changing, however, and both private and public enterprises are introducing efficient solutions
to develop the market. To add value to the market’s future, more companies are developing solar-
powered EV charging stations, in light of the country’s unique electricity supply constraints.
Recent data collected by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa
(NAAMSA) shows that 3 092 New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) were sold in South Africa in the first three
quarters of 2022 compared with 896 during the same period in 2021. Several key aspects of this
growth have been contributed to the evolution of electric vehicle technology, including charging
stations. As the world continues to focus on reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to more
sustainable transportation solutions, the demand for EVs is expected to grow rapidly in the coming
years.
Plans To Install Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
In a move to support the growth of the electric vehicle market in South Africa, Audi and Rubicon
have announced plans to install 43 new EV charging stations across the country in 2023. This
includes the installation of the country’s first 200kW ultra-fast charger, which is expected to
significantly reduce charging times for EV owners. The addition of these charging stations is a crucial
step towards developing the necessary charging infrastructure for the growing number of electric
vehicles on South Africa’s roads.
The growing electric vehicle market in South Africa has not only attracted major players like Audi
and Rubicon, but it also presents opportunities for entrepreneurs and other industry sectors. One
such sector is the facilities management sector, with companies such as Servest growing its EV
charging infrastructure to keep up with the evolving market.
Servest has been providing electric vehicle charging stations for the past five years.
While the market uptake for electric vehicles in South Africa has been slow, we are now seeing a significant
shift in the market. The company has been supplying and installing one of the world’s leading brands
of electric vehicle charging stations – CIRCARLIFE – which provides a comprehensive range of
equipment to service all the needs of the EV market. In addition to intelligent recharging systems for
urban life, car park charging systems, fast charging systems at electric stations, and intelligent
recharging systems at home, there are intelligent recharging systems available.
The company’s smart electric vehicle recharge solutions include recharging periods in off-peak
hours, prepayment systems, and safety features. It also includes features such as off-peak recharging
– designed for scheduled recharging time and energy management to prevent overload of circuit
breakers, prepayment options that allow users to easily pay for energy usage by kWh, credits, time,
etc. The solutions are compliant with EU safety standards, ensuring ease of use and intuitive
operation.
According to the International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook 2021, South Africa already ranks
fifth globally in terms of the ratio of public EV chargers to electric vehicles, with an average of five to
six EVs per public charger, compared to the global average of 25 EVs per public charger. As more
enterprises recognise the importance of offering sustainable products, the EV market in South Africa is expected to continue to grow, with efforts to develop charging infrastructure becoming increasingly important.
Eskom’s inconsistent electricity provision has always hampered the growth of the electric vehicle
(EV) market in South Africa, with motorists reluctant to purchase EVs due to inconsistent electricity
supply. To address this, in February 2023, Eskom announced it would play a major role in supporting
the development of the EV sector in the country.
Furthermore, the power utility plans to replace its entire fleet of conventional vehicles with electric
vehicles by 2040. Eskom is currently introducing 13 000 EVs, both utility and passenger, to its fleet of
vehicles. Eskom has joined the list of local sponsors for the E-Fest with an R2.1 million sponsorship
that will profile the company’s microgrid technology and mobility solutions.
The move towards EV charging infrastructure will contribute to the growth of the overall EV market
in South Africa. As more and more charging stations become available, it is expected that the
adoption of EVs will increase, and ultimately lead to a cleaner and more sustainable transportation
system.
As the demand for EV charging infrastructure continues to rise, it will be interesting to see how the
market responds; and how other industries adapt and respond to this evolving market.
Tim Reynolds is General manger for Servest Technical Solutions
