South Africa’s national power supplier Eskom has signed a memorandum of cooperation with BYD Auto South Africa to accelerate the rollout of infrastructure for electric vehicles.
The power utility rolled out 20 electric vehicles within its fleet earlier this month.
Eskom said the memorandum signals its intent for future collaboration and supporting of the BYD Dolphin Surf – a compact, affordable and electric vehicle (EV) that represents a major milestone in the country’s transition to sustainable transport.
Eskom Acting Group Executive for Distribution Agnes said having successfully rolled out EVs in their fleet on 9 September, they are ready to enable wider adoption by bringing practical and accessible charging infrastructure to South Africans.
Through the memorandum Eskom and BYD will explore:
- Supporting South Africa’s national drive to decarbonise transport and position the country as a hub for EV adoption.
- The potential expansion of public charging infrastructure in key locations nationwide.
- Opportunities for local skills development, SMME participation, and job creation in the growing EV ecosystem.
Furthermore, the power utility said future discussions may also consider renewable-powered and ultra-fast charging hubs, recycling and repurposing used EV batteries for energy storage and backup systems, and integrating EVs into Eskom’s demand-side management strategies to help balance electricity supply and demand.
“Eskom is driving into a cleaner future, not only through our investments in renewable energy and sustainable technologies but also by enabling affordable and innovative mobility solutions for South Africans,” Mlambo said.
Meanwhile, a recent report revealed that the sales of hybrid and electric cars are growing in South Africa. Although the vehicles had a slow start in the country due to insufficient infrastructure and the unstable energy supply.
