Wednesday was commemorated as World Electric Vehicle (EV) Day and closer to home, South Africans have shown an appetite for the sector as consumers seek lower running costs and greater fuel efficiency.
This comes after The Automotive Business Council (naamsa) vehicle sales figures for August indicated that EV adoption is accelerating.
naamsa's report showed that South Africa's new vehicle market sustained strong momentum in August 2026, with aggregate sales increasing by 11,4% year-on-year to 57,898 units.
South Africans, however, are turning more towards fuel-economic and EVs due to rising cost pressures faced by millions.
In the first seven months of 2026, 16,289 New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) were sold, already equal to 97,5% of total 2025 NEV sales and above the 15,596 units recorded in 2024.
The year-to-date mix comprises 8,078 hybrids, 5,851 plug-in hybrids and 2,360 battery electric vehicles, showing that consumers are adopting multiple electrified technology pathways.
Norbert Stallkamp, Business Development Manager at black tower, one of the newest entrants into the EV charging network sector said that motorists are starting to realise the ease-of-use of EVs and the saving it offers over fuel powered cars.
“And if you have considered switching to an EV, we have crunched the numbers for you based off our own experience of driving an EV daily (and staying within legal speed limits). The data is clear: charging an EV is considerably cheaper than filling up with a petrol- or diesel-powered car (savings of between R13,000 and R17,000 a year according to our calculations),” Stallkamp said.
The savings were calculated based on a yearly travel distance of around 10,000km to 12,000km.
He said that data from 2026 provided by the GAC Group showed that the average South African driver can save upwards of R25,000 to R30,000 a year.
"This depends heavily on where they charge and how much they drive. This higher end of the estimate (R25,000 to R30,000) is for those covering 15,000km to 20,000km in their EVs a year. While fuel costs may fluctuate, the difference in price to ‘fill up’ is undeniable,” Stallkamp said.
EV charging network infrastructure
Stallkamp also challenged the perception that charging stations are few and far between in South Africa, noting that there is a healthy ratio of chargers to EVs and that the gap is a geographical one, given the size of the country.
Industry reports indicated that South Africa currently features roughly 445 distinct charging sites housing more than 650 individual public chargers and around 1,200 connectors.
The numbers continue to grow, according to global charging station finder app PlugShare, there were just under 400 publicly available charging stations in South Africa in 2025, up from none 15 years ago.
"Additionally, the apps/websites linked to these charging networks give the user a bird’s eye view of where they are located on a map, useful especially for longer road trips and will become second-nature markers much like the petrol service stations dotted along the country’s major highways," Stallkamp said.
Future of South Africa’s EV network
Stallkamp added that for now there’s also a lingering uncertainty over what an EV charger looks like since they come in different shapes and sizes.
He said that this will change as these charging stations are expected to become more visible as high traffic areas like malls and property developments, among others, set aside parking bays to host the EV infrastructure.
Reflecting on the significance of World EV Day, Stallkamp said the transition to electric mobility is already happening.
“Every new charging station, every EV on the road and every investment in renewable energy brings us closer to a cleaner and more sustainable future. The road ahead is electric, and South Africans have an opportunity to be part of that journey today," Stallkamp said.
N3 real-world test
Meanwhile, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) launched the N3 EV Real-World Test, an initiative that will turn everyday electric vehicle journeys between Johannesburg and Durban into a growing source of real-world data for South African motorists and fleet operators considering the switch to electric.
“For many South Africans there is still a gap between what they see on a specification sheet and what they want to know before buying a vehicle,” said Joubert Roux, CHARGE Co-Founder and Chair.
“Motorists and fleet operators want to know what range they can realistically expect on the open road, how much energy a vehicle uses between Johannesburg and Durban, and how factors such as elevation, weather and driving conditions affect performance. The best way to answer those questions is to start building a body of South African real-world data," said Roux.
ashley.lechman@nationalmg.co.za