Daily Electric Transportation Solutions

Eskom has introduced an initial fleet of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) to support its operational needs and demonstrate the feasibility of zero-emission transport within a large utility. The rollout includes a mix of passenger hatchbacks and light-duty delivery vans that will be assigned to regional offices for tasks such as meter reading, asset inspections, and administrative travel. By replacing comparable internal-combustion vehicles, Eskom anticipates reducing its annual fuel consumption by several tens of thousands of liters and cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by hundreds of tonnes. The pilot phase will inform the utility’s broader vehicle-electrification strategy and help refine requirements for charging infrastructure, telematics, and driver training.

Charging for the EVs is provided through dedicated charging stations installed at Eskom’s head office and selected substations, drawing on both grid power and onsite renewable generation where available. Each site features a combination of AC and DC fast chargers that deliver sufficient range for a full day of field operations, and battery-management data are collected centrally to monitor energy use, charging patterns, and vehicle performance. This initiative aligns with Eskom’s decarbonization goals and supports South Africa’s national objectives for sustainable transport, while generating real-world data to guide future expansion of an electric fleet across the company’s footprint.

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