Joburg invests R14m in new EV charging pilot network

The City of Johannesburg, together with City Power, has launched the first phase of its electric vehicle (EV) charging network, investing R14 million in charging infrastructure, software, and energy components.

The initial rollout includes 14 stations at the Booysens facility and forms part of a broader plan to expand across the city. Executive mayor Dada Morero said the shift to EVs is driven by economic and environmental pressures.

“We are contributing to clean air, mitigating climate change, and despite the foreseen hike of petrol due to global tensions, this method of EV will be cost effective,” he said.

Moreover, Morero mentioned that a full EV charge is expected to cost about R300 for roughly 600km, compared with over R1 000 for petrol vehicles covering a similar distance.

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Makhosini Kharodi chairperson of the board for City Power said the launch reflects a broader strategic shift within the utility.

“As City Power, we re-embarked on a strategy to reposition the entity from an electricity company to an energy company, and this marks one of the pillars of our turnaround,” he said, describing the rollout as a “pioneering day” aimed at delivering more affordable and sustainable energy.

The utility expects the transition to reduce fleet-related costs by about 30%, cutting inefficiencies such as high fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and vehicle misuse.

City Power said the launch serves as a proof of concept, with plans to expand charging infrastructure across service delivery centres, municipal offices, and key routes.

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The city argues the transition will improve operational efficiency and reduce exposure to volatile fuel prices.

This EV rollout also signals Johannesburg’s long-term focus on modernising its energy system, despite ongoing infrastructure challenges like electricity losses from illegal connections.

Read: Morero deploys ‘bomb squad’ to defuse CoJ’s ‘deepest crises’

Phenyo Selinda is a Moneyweb Intern*

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