New electric car battery-swapping system coming to South Africa’s richest city

Johannesburg power utility City Power has announced that it will expand its EV infrastructure with a city-wide rollout of new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

The installation of this new infrastructure is set to begin at City Power depots, operational sites, major public roads, and Rea Vaya and Metrobus depots.

The rollout will help service a new fleet of City Power electric vehicles and will expand further into public access areas and townships.

This will help the broader public and private adoption of EVs.

To address issues raised with EV charging times, City Power will also introduce a battery-swapping system to support drivers.

This battery-swapping system allows depleted batteries to be exchanged for fully charged ones, drastically reducing waiting periods for EVs.

“This EV rollout is more than just a technology upgrade, it’s a transformational step towards reimagining how Johannesburg moves,” said City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava.

“It embodies our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and economic development. The arrival of our charging stations proves that implementation is not a distant dream — it is underway.”

Both the EV charging stations and the new fleet of EV vehicles form a part of City Power’s Electric Vehicle Programme, which aims to transition the city to a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable energy future.

The new fleet of EV vehicles will include everything from light-duty maintenance vans to heavy-duty trucks and will help reduce fuel and maintenance costs over time.

This ensures that every echelon of City Power’s transportation will align with its sustainability goals for Johannesburg.

10-Point Energy Plan

The Electric Vehicle Programme is a central pillar of City Power’s 10-Point Energy Plan, which is intended to diversify the city’s energy mix, improve energy resilience, reduce carbon emissions, and position Johannesburg as a leader in the green economy.

Along with the EV vehicle and charging station rollout, the 10-Point Energy Plan includes other initiatives to help the city become more sustainable.

These include the deployment of Solar Microgrids across informal settlements, the installation of High Solar Masts and Street Solar Lights across underserved communities, and the installation of Solar PV Systems on government buildings such as hospitals, clinics, and schools.

As part of this Plan, City Power teams recently refurbished the Gas Turbines at John Ware Substation and finalised the work at Durban Street Substation.

These open gas turbines were originally built in the 1960s and have now been remodelled and revitalised to provide reliable backup power during loadshedding.

“These initiatives were collectively part of an effort to reduce City Power’s dependence on Eskom, enhance supply security, reduce emissions, and ensure the City of Johannesburg can meet growing energy demand in a sustainable fashion,” read the announcement statement.

Along with sustainability goals, the 10-Point Energy Plan will help with job creation and skills development.

For the Electric Vehicle Programme, this has involved City Power beginning collaborations with universities and technical institutions to develop training in EV technologies, including safety, battery management, and maintenance.

An e-Fleet Innovation Lab is also being created to support research, entrepreneurship, and advances in mobility solutions.

“The world is rapidly shifting from ICE vehicles to electric-powered alternatives. This change is driven by the urgent need to decarbonise our economies and fight climate change,” said Mashava.

“We are determined not to be left behind. We must lead this shift, not just to protect our environment, but to secure jobs, investment, and growth for our people.”

The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, is expected to launch the EV Programme in the coming weeks officially.