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Eskom EV rollout: BYD partnership aims to supercharge South Africa’s charging network

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Eskom EV rollout: BYD partnership aims to supercharge South Africa’s charging network
19 September 2025 Vusumuzi Moyo

South Africa’s grid operator is stepping into the fast lane. On 9 September 2025, Eskom put 20 battery-powered bakkies and light trucks into service and installed 10 chargers for its own operations. A week later, on 16 September, it signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with BYD Auto South Africa, aligning the state utility with one of the world’s biggest EV makers to push national charging infrastructure and make the BYD Dolphin Surf the country’s most affordable all-electric option.

For a utility better known for keeping the lights on, the move is a signal: Eskom doesn’t just plan to supply electrons—it wants to shape how mobility uses them. Acting Distribution head Agnes Mlambo said Eskom is ready to take what it learned from its own fleet and help the public plug in with practical, accessible charging.

From internal pilot to public infrastructure

The initial 20 vehicles will run on Eskom duty cycles—inspections, site visits, and logistics—where predictable routes and depot charging make the switch straightforward. That’s the quiet advantage: predictable charging windows, centralised maintenance, and lower fuel costs turn fleets into fast adopters. Electricity typically costs less per kilometre than petrol or diesel, and EVs have fewer moving parts, which cuts routine maintenance.

BYD’s role adds scale and a consumer hook. The Dolphin Surf, positioned as South Africa’s most affordable EV, opens the door for first-time buyers who have been priced out of the segment. If Eskom boosts charging availability while BYD brings a lower-cost model, the country gets both sides of the adoption puzzle—supply and demand—moving at once.

The cooperation deal targets several areas that matter on the ground: expanding public charging at key sites nationwide, developing local skills, and creating room for SMMEs—installers, technicians, site operators, and software providers—to participate. That’s not just about plugging in cars; it’s about building an ecosystem with real jobs in installation, maintenance, grid integration, and data services.

Policy winds are favorable. Government has set out an EV policy framework and early incentives to draw investment into local manufacturing and supply chains. South Africa already has hundreds of public chargers clustered along major routes and in big metros, but access is uneven. Eskom and BYD want to push new sites where demand is rising—shopping centres, office parks, logistics depots, and highway stops—so drivers don’t have to plan around a sparse map.

Under the MoC, the parties plan to explore:

  • Renewable-powered ultra-fast charging hubs that combine grid supply with on-site solar and battery storage
  • Second-life battery reuse for stationary energy storage and commercial backup systems
  • Smart charging and demand-side management, including managed overnight charging to ease peak load
  • Standards, training, and data-sharing to keep chargers reliable and interoperable across brands

Can the grid handle it?

That’s the question many South Africans ask first. The answer depends on when and how cars charge. Managed charging makes a big difference. Most EVs plug in overnight or during the workday, which can line up with off-peak hours or midday solar. If Eskom uses price signals and software to shift charging away from the evening peak, the grid impact stays manageable while the utility gains flexible demand it can shape.

This is where fleet electrification helps. Eskom can test time-of-use tariffs, smart chargers, and depot scheduling in its own backyard before scaling to the public. Add storage at busy sites and you blunt short-term spikes. Add solar and you shave daytime grid demand even more. Over time, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) could provide backup and balancing services, but that needs standards, warranties, and clear rules so car batteries aren’t overworked.

Reliability matters as much as speed. Well-placed 60–150 kW chargers can transform city and corridor travel without waiting for ultra-rapid hubs at every stop. The plan is to seed a reliable backbone first, then fill gaps as adoption grows. Think: dependable chargers on key corridors and in dense urban nodes, with clear pricing, 24/7 support, and easy payment.

For households and small businesses, the economics are already compelling. Fuel savings stack up quickly for high-mileage drivers. Fewer oil changes and brake replacements trim maintenance costs. And if Eskom keeps tariffs predictable, lifetime ownership costs should undercut comparable combustion models—exactly the argument the utility is making as it pitches EVs as clean and cost-effective.

The jobs angle is just as important. Training technicians to install and service chargers, certifying electricians for high-voltage work, and building local assembly for components like mounting hardware and switchgear can feed SMME growth. Every new charging site needs groundwork: municipal permits, grid assessments, trenching, civil works, and software integration. That’s local work by default.

Battery recycling and reuse are the long game. When EV packs lose range for driving, they’re still valuable for stationary storage. Repurposed packs can back up clinics, schools, and small businesses, especially in towns that need resilience. It also keeps valuable materials in circulation and reduces waste.

What happens next? Eskom and BYD are expected to map priority sites with municipalities and property owners, align grid connections, and stage deployments so chargers come online in clusters rather than one-off points. Expect a mix of highway sites for long-distance travel and urban hubs where dwell time is natural—shopping, dining, and work.

Consumers will watch three things: charger uptime, price transparency, and interoperability. A driver should be able to tap a card or use a simple app at any public charger and get a clear price per kWh. If Eskom’s network connects smoothly with existing operators, route planning gets easier and anxiety fades.

This initiative doesn’t replace the private players already building the market—it adds public heft where scale and grid know-how matter. Companies have been installing chargers along the N1/N3 corridors and in major cities, some with solar-and-storage sites to reduce strain on the grid. With Eskom coordinating grid access and standards, rollout can speed up without tripping over bottlenecks.

South Africa’s EV story won’t be written in a single year. But a state utility adopting EVs for its own fleet and teaming up with BYD is a practical start. Put affordable models on the road, back them with reliable chargers, train the people who keep the system running, and the rest follows. That’s the bet Eskom is making as it moves from pilot to public deployment of electric vehicles—and it’s one the market has been waiting for.

Vusumuzi Moyo
Vusumuzi Moyo

I am a journalist specializing in daily news coverage with a keen focus on developments across Africa. My work involves analyzing political, economic, and cultural trends to bring insightful stories to my readers. I strive to present news in a concise and accessible manner, aiming to inform and educate through my articles.

9 Comments

  • Aditya Kulshrestha
    Aditya Kulshrestha
    September 19, 2025 AT 19:06

    The Eskom‑BYD tie‑up isn’t just a PR stunt; it introduces a measurable increase in charging points, which, according to the latest load forecasts, will require an additional 150 MW of capacity by 2027 😊. By deploying fleet chargers first, Eskom can collect granular usage data, calibrate time‑of‑use tariffs, and fine‑tune demand response algorithms before scaling to the public network. Moreover, integrating on‑site solar and battery storage at depots will alleviate peak‑hour stress, preserving grid stability while showcasing renewable‑backed fast charging. In short, the partnership must align technical standards, data protocols, and tariff structures to avoid the typical “plug‑and‑play” pitfalls that have hampered earlier projects.

  • Sumit Raj Patni
    Sumit Raj Patni
    September 24, 2025 AT 10:13

    Yo, this is the kind of move that finally puts South Africa on the fast‑track to an EV future. With BYD’s Dolphin Surf hitting the market at a price many can actually afford, the demand curve will shoot up faster than anyone expected. Eskom’s fleet pilots give them a sandbox to iron out the kinks – think smart‑charging software, solar‑plus‑storage hubs, and real‑time pricing signals. If they keep the rollout aggressive and community‑focused, we’ll see charging stations pop up at malls, office parks, and even those cramped township “spaza” spots.

  • Shalini Bharwaj
    Shalini Bharwaj
    September 29, 2025 AT 01:19

    Look, the numbers speak for themselves – lower fuel costs, fewer maintenance headaches, and a cleaner city skyline. The real win is the jobs that will spring up around installation and maintenance, especially for women who’ve been under‑represented in the trades. Let’s make sure the training programs are inclusive and the pay is fair, so everyone benefits from this green shift.

  • Chhaya Pal
    Chhaya Pal
    October 3, 2025 AT 16:26

    The introduction of a state‑backed charging network represents more than just a convenience for early adopters.
    It signals a systemic shift in how energy policy, urban planning, and socioeconomic development intersect.
    When charging stations are placed strategically along commuter corridors, they reduce range anxiety for a broader segment of the population.
    This, in turn, encourages more people to consider electric mobility as a viable alternative to gasoline‑powered vehicles.
    Moreover, the integration of renewable generation at these sites creates a virtuous loop where clean energy powers clean transport.
    The prospect of on‑site battery storage adds resilience, allowing communities to weather load‑shedding events with a backup source of power.
    By training local technicians and installers, the program also invests in human capital that can be redeployed across other emerging green sectors.
    Small and medium‑size enterprises will find new revenue streams, whether they are building mounting structures, developing software platforms, or servicing the hardware.
    From an environmental standpoint, the cumulative effect of thousands of EVs charging during off‑peak hours can flatten the demand curve, reducing the need for peaker plants.
    This flattening can improve overall grid efficiency and lower greenhouse‑gas emissions beyond the direct benefits of electrified transport.
    The economic case is further strengthened when you factor in reduced health costs from lower air pollution in densely populated areas.
    In the long run, the data collected from smart chargers will feed into better forecasting models, informing future investment decisions.
    Policymakers can use this insight to fine‑tune subsidies, tariff structures, and urban zoning laws that favor sustainable mobility.
    Ultimately, the partnership between Eskom and BYD could become a blueprint for other African nations seeking to leapfrog into a low‑carbon future.
    The success of this initiative will hinge on transparent governance, community engagement, and a relentless focus on affordability for the average South African.

  • Naveen Joshi
    Naveen Joshi
    October 8, 2025 AT 07:33

    Eskom’s pilot fleet is a smart way to test charging schedules it also lets them see real‑world wear on the batteries and figure out the best times to charge without overloading the grid this data will be priceless when they roll out public stations across the country.

  • Gaurav Bhujade
    Gaurav Bhujade
    October 12, 2025 AT 22:39

    From the data you gather now, you can develop clear guidelines for other fleet operators and even municipal services looking to electrify their vehicles.

  • Chandrajyoti Singh
    Chandrajyoti Singh
    October 17, 2025 AT 13:46

    In contemplating the broader implications, one observes that electrification transcends mere transportation; it reshapes the very fabric of urban ecosystems, inviting a reevaluation of energy stewardship and societal responsibility.

  • Riya Patil
    Riya Patil
    October 22, 2025 AT 04:53

    The reverberations of this initiative will echo through generations, carving a luminous path toward a resilient, sustainable tomorrow where every charge becomes a pledge to the planet.

  • naveen krishna
    naveen krishna
    October 26, 2025 AT 19:59

    Sounds like a win‑win for everyone 😊

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