South Africa showcases electric mobility breakthrough following Volvo Energy drive study

By:  Kanto Kai Okanta

South Africa’s path toward electric mobility took another step forward this week as industry leaders and government stakeholders gathered at Volvo’s Johannesburg offices to mark the conclusion of the Energy Drive research journey. The initiative saw a Volvo electric vehicle travel across multiple provinces to collect real-world data on charging infrastructure, range, and user experience, demonstrating that EVs are viable beyond major urban centres.

The vehicle journeyed from Gauteng through North West and Free State to the Eastern Cape for the E-Mobility Summit in Gqeberha. Officials said the findings will directly shape future policy direction and national deployment strategies.

Volvo Car South Africa’s Grant Locke described the research outcomes as a major opportunity for the country’s e-mobility future. Industry voices at the event stressed that internal combustion engine vehicles will become more expensive over time and that the shift to electric transport is inevitable.

Hiten Parmar from The Electric MISSION urged South Africa to convert its century-long automotive manufacturing legacy into new leadership in zero-emission vehicle production. Professor Sampson Mamphweli from SANEDI highlighted that the study demonstrated EV performance across provinces while revealing critical charging network gaps that must be addressed.

Stakeholders concluded that South Africa holds the minerals, skills base, production capacity and renewable energy potential to become a competitive player in global electric vehicle supply chains.