Author: Yael Shafrir

A year ago, South Africa was mired in loadshedding, with the importance and relevance of electric vehicles (EVs) far from the public imagination.  How can a country that struggles to keep the lights on dedicate time and resources to building out an EV future?  Fast forward a year, much has changed.  Power supply has stabilised and a statement increasingly doing the rounds in key policy and business circles is, “South Africa should be a primary player in the EV manufacturing space.” The reasons why are myriad, with recent moves by the government accelerating a true export industrialisation opportunity that can…

Many South Africans who struggle every day to reach their places of work using minibus taxis or cars on congested motorways may find it hard to believe that an emobility revolution is about to happen. But there are a number of trends moving in that direction. Emobility refers to electric vehicles, ideally powered by renewable energy sources, which may range from two- and three-wheeled vehicles to cars and buses. Recent developments Some recent developments are underway in South Africa which are laying the foundation of the future emobility revolution. This will help the country to meet its carbon reduction commitments…