Eskom and BYD join forces to boost SA's EV future with 200 new charging stations

Eskom and BYD Auto South Africa have formalised a major partnership to roll out hundreds of new public charging stations, aiming to accelerate South Africa's transition to cleaner, more affordable transport.

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed four months ago, establishing the goal of speeding up the introduction of reasonably priced electric vehicles (EVs) and growing the country's network of charging stations.

During the launch of the Sealion 5 Super Plug-in Hybrid car in Johannesburg last week, BYD reiterated its strong commitment to the agreement. 

The Chinese car brand plans to provide and install a total of 200 to 300 public charging stations across the country by the end of 2026, which will be powered by Eskom.

This joint initiative will significantly broaden EV accessibility. The charging network will not only be available for BYD vehicles but will also accommodate models from other automakers.

Furthermore, BYD revealed plans to eventually use ultra-fast 1MW charging technology. This will pave the way for next-generation rapid charging once compatible vehicles become available in the market.

Mark Handley, Commercial Director of BYD Auto South Africa, said at the launch that many South Africans are eager to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles. However, he highlighted that most luxury hybrid models remain financially out of reach for the majority, underscoring the necessity for more affordable options.

The new Sealion 5 is set to retail from R499,900, positioning it as one of the more affordable hybrid SUVs available in South Africa. The majority of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) currently on the market are significantly more expensive, often priced well over R600,000.

"We're reinventing value in the SUV market, not just introducing a new vehicle," said Steve Chang, the automaker's SA Managing Director. "High-end features, efficiency, and financial stability shouldn't be mutually exclusive."