Eskom today launched its electric-vehicle (EV) charging network as part of its eMobility roadmap.
The state-owned power utility collaborated with GridCars, the operator of the country’s biggest EV charger network, to establish its infrastructure.
The first plug is installed at the Eskom Academy of Learning in Midrand, Gauteng as part of a pilot project that will see 10 chargers set up at five Eskom facilities across the country.
Other sites comprise Brackenfell, Cape Town; Mkondeni, Pietermaritzburg; Tlhabane Customer Network Centre (CNC), Rustenburg; and Marathon CNC, Mbombela.
The charging stations boast 60kW DC and 22kW AC connections designed to accommodate the overnight charging of fleet vehicles and daytime workplace charging for employees and visitors.
The pilot also includes the purchase of 20 EVs for operational use such as light delivery vehicles and light trucks.
“By setting our standard for eMobility in South Africa, we are not just reducing our carbon footprint but paving the way forward,” said Gabriel Kgabo, General Manager in the Office of the Group Executive, at the inauguration of the new Eskom-branded stations.
Eskom going green
The rollout of the Eskom EV chargers is a key pillar in its efforts to go green.
In February last year, Eskom said that it intends to replace its entire fleet of over 13,000 petrol and diesel cars with EVs as soon as 2040.
At the time Executive Director Monde Bala said that the organisation initiated a pilot project which introduced several EVs to its existing fleet, and that “plans are underway to begin the process of converting the rest of the Eskom fleet to electric where possible.”
“We will soon seek suitable partners for the rollout of public charging stations on Eskom sites across the country, through applicable procurement processes. In time, these should be accessible to the public,” said Bala.
It seems these statements have now come to fruition with the unveiling of the flashy new Eskom EV chargers.
In addition, the power utility last year introduced residential time-of-use (ToU) charging tariffs that make topping up an EV at home significantly more affordable during certain hours of the day when electricity demand is low.
Another landmark development in the Eskom sphere is the recent signing of a Memorandum of Co-operation (MOC) with Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS).
GABS intends to introduce as many as 1,100 electric buses to the Western Cape over the coming years and sought the assistance of Eskom to help it successfully implement its vision.
“Introducing electric buses at scale requires partnerships between large electricity generators, distributors, and users – this MOC will enable us to work together to provide a public bus service which is safe, reliable, and cost effective,” said GABS CEO Francois Meyer.
“Golden Arrow has taken the bold step to replace 10% of its fleet with electric vehicles by the end of 2025, and the data which we are generating is the first of its kind in South Africa. Sharing this data will empower others to make informed decisions and help determine the future of electric mobility within the public transport space.”
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