Retail distribution in South Africa is reaching a defining milestone. Electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem provider Zimi is partnering with retail leader Clicks Group to support its transition to electric logistics, deploying high-capacity charging infrastructure and smart management technology across its national network.
Zimi is deploying EV charging infrastructure across all 10 Clicks distribution centres and 24 retail stores nationwide. This expanding network underpins Clicks’ growing electric fleet and enables long-distance, heavy-duty freight across South Africa.
At the heart of the roll-out is Clicks’ Montague Gardens distribution centre in Cape Town, which is set to become the first retail distribution centre in Africa to operate a 100% electric truck fleet by the end of October 2026. Clicks has secured 30 new-generation SANY heavy-duty electric trucks, with 16 being introduced in Cape Town and 14 in Centurion by 1 October 2026.
The roll-out integrates Zimi’s high-power DC fast-charging infrastructure directly with Clicks’ existing solar microgrids and third-party logistics (3PL) partners. By utilizing bay-side fast-charging, heavy-duty delivery vehicles replenish their battery capacity while offloading cargo, establishing an always-on distribution model with zero operational downtime.
Through Zimi’s centralized software platform, Clicks and its 3PL partners maintain complete real-time control over vehicle performance, driver telemetry, and charger uptime. By pairing solar generation with smart charging algorithms, the system drives down energy expenses per kilometer, converting environmental targets into immediate balance-sheet gains.
“Decarbonising heavy freight used to feel out of reach for commercial supply chains,” says Michael Maas, CEO and Co-founder of Zimi. “At Zimi, our purpose is simple: we are making EVs possible. Our solution empowers commercial fleets to embrace electric vehicles seamlessly. By pairing high-power DC infrastructure with real-time software, we enable industry leaders like Clicks to run high-efficiency electric distribution networks without operational compromise.”
“Electrifying our logistics network is part of a much broader ecosystem we are building to make our operations more resilient, efficient, and sustainable,” says Bertina Engelbrecht, CEO of Clicks Group. “As we grow, access to cleaner energy becomes increasingly important. Our investments in renewable energy, electricity wheeling, battery storage and fleet electrification work together to reduce our environmental impact while strengthening operational resilience. It is about making practical investments today that will support a more sustainable business for the future.”
“This rollout marks an important milestone in our sustainability and logistics transformation journey, forming part of our strategy to build a smarter, greener, and more customer-focused supply chain,” adds Pieter Strydom, Logistics Executive at Clicks Group. “Partners such as Zimi play a critical role in making this vision a reality, and we look forward to working together as we expand the EV charging infrastructure supporting our logistics network nationally.”
Looking ahead, Clicks plans to accelerate its logistics transformation, targeting 68 electric trucks by the end of 2027 – approximately 62% of its current fleet and well ahead of its original target of 30% by the end of 2029. Further expansion into KwaZulu-Natal is planned by September 2027. The initial 30-truck rollout is expected to save approximately 780,000 litres of diesel and avoid approximately 2,000 tonnes of tailpipe CO₂ emissions annually. Together, Zimi and Clicks are demonstrating how fleet electrification can support more sustainable and efficient logistics at commercial scale.