To test how ready the country is for wider NEV adoption, two senior Absa executives recently undertook a three‑day, 4 000‑kilometre electric‑vehicle (EV) journey from Johannesburg to Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
One of the Executives, Tebogo Maphothoma, who heads Operations and Enablement at Absa Vehicle Asset Finance, said the trip exposed several critical gaps in the country’s EV ecosystem, including limited charging infrastructure, low consumer awareness and broader readiness challenges.
Speaking to Channel Africa, Zinzile Gcaleka, Executive for Strategy and Customer at Absa Insurance, reflected on her experience of travelling in an EV for the first time.
Gcaleka described the journey as “historic,” taking place shortly before SA Auto Week, hosted in Gqeberha, the country’s largest hub for vehicle production and export.
“Our mission was to showcase a range of electric vehicles and to demonstrate the infrastructure that currently exists in South Africa,” she said. “It was my first experience in an EV. I was highly impressed by the quiet engine and intuitive tech suite.”
But she also confronted a new concept: range anxiety. “This is the EV equivalent of watching the red fuel light come on in a petrol car and calculating where the next garage might be,” Gcaleka said. “Fortunately, I was in a hybrid vehicle, so I had petrol backup if I ran out of range.”
She said the journey opened her eyes to the real‑world challenges that early EV adopters face, particularly the lack of accessible charging points across long‑distance routes.
“We made it safely to Gqeberha with many stories to tell,” she said. “But the trip certainly triggered thoughts about what it will take for SA to increase adoption and properly educate consumers on electric vehicles.”
Asked whether the country is prepared for a large‑scale transition, Gcaleka said the shift will take time and strategic planning. “As with any transition, there is a path to readiness,” she said. “We need to re‑educate society, upskill the workforce, rethink energy access, and prepare our skills base for what the NEV future demands.”
She added that SA already has strong credentials in automotive manufacturing and could attract greater investment once supply chains and incentives for NEV production mature. “There is confidence in SA’s ability to produce vehicles at scale,” she said. “That can attract investors who would support local NEV production.”
Gcaleka confirmed she flew back to Johannesburg due to time constraints, noting that one long‑distance EV trip was enough for now, particularly given the gaps in charging infrastructure. “I brought back all the experience and lessons,” she said. “One trip was enough, by flight.”
–ChannelAfrica–
