South Africa's commercial fleet sector could present a R19 billion opportunity by 2030 if barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption are addressed, according to speakers during a webinar hosted by EV100 and Zimi.
Citing GreenCape research, EV100 said commercial fleets and logistics operators were expected to play a central role in driving demand for EVs over the coming decade.
"The commercial case is already becoming evident," said EV100 international relations manager Thyla-Jay Quickfall. "Fleet operators are already reporting operational savings of between 30% and 70% from early EV deployments."
Truck pilot projects had demonstrated potential annual savings of between R500 000 and R650 000 through lower fuel and maintenance costs, while last-mile delivery was emerging as one of the strongest use cases for fleet electrification, she said.
Despite the potential savings, speakers said widespread adoption would depend on greater certainty around total cost of ownership, charging infrastructure, financing options and government policy before businesses committed to large-scale fleet investments.
Corporate fleets could provide the demand certainty needed for manufacturers and investors to expand EV offerings in South Africa, as high-mileage commercial fleets are well suited to electrification because of their predictable operating patterns, Quickfall said.
Priyam Reddy, senior researcher at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), said charging infrastructure was expanding along key transport corridors and freight routes, but South Africa's EV policy remained focused largely on developing local manufacturing capacity rather than encouraging vehicle uptake.
Speakers agreed that greater policy certainty and innovative financing models would be critical to accelerating fleet electrification in the logistics sector.
