Eskom has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with BYD Auto South Africa, the local division of the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, to explore opportunities in South Africa’s emerging electric vehicle (EV) sector. The agreement, signed on September 16, 2025, supports the launch of BYD’s compact all-electric Dolphin Surf, marking a significant step toward expanding affordable and sustainable transport options in the country.
This partnership builds on Eskom’s recent rollout of 20 electric vehicles and 10 charging stations for its internal use, which took place earlier this month. Agnes Mlambo, Eskom’s acting group executive for distribution, stated, “Having successfully rolled out EVs within our fleet, we are ready to enable wider adoption by bringing practical and accessible charging infrastructure to South Africans.”
The collaboration aims to support South Africa’s national efforts to decarbonise transport, expand public charging infrastructure in strategic locations, and promote local skills development, small, medium, and micro-enterprise (SMME) participation, and job creation within the EV value chain.
Future initiatives may include the establishment of renewable-powered ultra-fast charging hubs, recycling and repurposing used EV batteries, and integrating electric vehicles into Eskom’s demand-side management strategies to help balance supply and demand.
Mlambo emphasized Eskom’s commitment to a cleaner future, stating, “We are not only investing in renewable energy and sustainable technologies, but also enabling affordable and innovative mobility solutions for South Africans.”