Eskom is procuring electric vehicles and charging infrastructure for a pilot project. (Eskom/Sourced/Facebook).

• Eskom is procuring electric vehicles and charging infrastructure for a pilot project.
• Eskom Distribution wants to have a fully electric fleet by 2040.
• New electric vehicle and hybrid sales are growing rapidly in South Africa.
• For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page.

Eskom is set to procure 20 electric vehicles, including light delivery vehicles and trucks, and install 10 charging stations, as part of a pilot project.

In an Eskom Distribution statement issued on Thursday evening, the utility said that the pilot lays the groundwork for its plans to have a fully electric fleet by 2040.

“By investing in eMobility and the charging infrastructure needed for electric vehicles, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also stimulating the local economy and creating new opportunities for growth,” said Gabriel Kgabo, general manager in the office of the Eskom group executive for distribution.

The statement said the project is part of Eskom’s ambitions to be net carbon zero by 2050.

The 10 charging points, which are being installed in partnership with South Africa’s biggest charging network owner Gridcars, will be at five Eskom sites in different parts of the country.

National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa statistics published this week show that there has been huge growth in the number of new electric and hybrid vehicles that have been sold in South Africa, although this is still a tiny proportion of new car sales.

There were 4 122 new electric and hybrid vehicles sold in South Africa in the second quarter of 2024, up from 1 528 in the corresponding period in the previous year. 

A total of 7 783 vehicles in this category were sold last year.

Some other organisations that have procured, or are in the process of procuring electric vehicles in South Africa include the City of Cape Town, Golden Arrow, Adcock Ingram, Takealot, Anglo American, and Woolworths. 

In a bid to boost local electric vehicle manufacturing capacity in line with the EV White Paper released by the Department of Trade Industry and Competition late last year, a higher import tariff is currently levied on electric vehicles brought into the country than standard internal combustion engine vehicles.

There is currently a 25% import duty in place for electric vehicles that are brought into the country, 7% above the 18% duty in place for vehicles with an internal combustion engine.