Karen Singh|Published
South African motorists could save thousands of rand a year by switching from petrol or diesel to fully electric vehicles, but high purchase prices, uneven charging access and concerns about electricity supply could slow adoption.
Electric vehicle sales are growing, with new charging stations being developed to reduce dependence on Eskom. However, whether drivers benefit financially depends largely on where they charge, how far they travel and how much they pay for their vehicles.
Figures from the Automotive Business Council (naamsa) show that 18 945 new-energy vehicles were sold in the first eight months of 2026, surpassing the 16 703 sold throughout 2025.
Most were not fully electric. Conventional hybrids, which combine a petrol engine and an electric motor without requiring external charging, accounted for 49.6% of sales. Plug-in hybrids made up 36.5%, while battery-electric vehicles, which run entirely on electricity, accounted for 13.8%.
Fully electric vehicle sales reached 2 622 by August, compared with 1 088 during all of 2025.
In the seven months to July, plug-in hybrid sales increased by 432% to 5 851, from 1 100 during the same period in 2025. Fully electric vehicle sales rose by 268%, from 641 to 2 360.
The council said the shift away from petrol and diesel would be gradual, with affordability, vehicle choice, electricity costs and charging infrastructure shaping the pace of adoption.
How much can motorists save by switching to electric vehicles?
Norbert Stallkamp, head of electric mobility at black tower, a joint venture between Red Rocket and RMB, said its calculations suggested drivers travelling 10 000km to 12 000km annually could save between R13 000 and R17 000 on fuel compared with conventional vehicles.
“The data is clear: charging an EV is considerably cheaper than filling up with a petrol- or diesel-powered car,” Stallkamp said.
Black tower also cited GAC Group estimates of annual savings of R25 000 to R30 000 for drivers covering 15 000km to 20 000km.
These figures depend on mileage and charging prices and do not reflect every cost of owning a vehicle.
Automobile Association chief executive Bobby Ramagwede said electric vehicles were becoming a practical choice for some motorists, but access to home charging could determine whether the savings materialised.
“The challenge to the consumer is where do I charge this vehicle if I live in a flat?” he asked.
Motorists without dedicated parking or home chargers may have to use more expensive public fast chargers. The council urged buyers to consider financing, insurance, maintenance and electricity costs rather than fuel savings alone.
Charging infrastructure remains a challenge
Black tower cited industry estimates of about 445 charging sites and 650 public chargers nationwide. Stallkamp said their geographical distribution remained a challenge for longer journeys.
Joubert Roux, co-founder and chair of CHARGE, said South Africa's power network would need major investment to meet growing demand, with local networks vulnerable to peak-time charging.
“We do not believe the grid is sufficiently stable or reliable to keep pace with growing EV charging demand without significant investment,” Roux said.
CHARGE's hubs at the Reitz interchange in the Free State and the Colenso-Winterton interchange in KwaZulu-Natal along the N3, as well as at Wolmaransstad on the N12, use on-site solar power and battery storage rather than Eskom or municipal electricity.
“Solar alone cannot provide continuous charging: output varies with the weather and stops after sunset,” Roux said.
He said adequate storage, carefully sized systems and backup arrangements were essential. Wider adoption would also require additional generation, network upgrades and charging systems that manage demand.
KwaZulu-Natal seeks investment in electric vehicles
Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal chief executive Sihle Ngcamu said Toyota's Prospecton plant and the province's component suppliers positioned KwaZulu-Natal to benefit from electric-vehicle investment.
“The shift to new energy vehicles is one of the most significant investment opportunities for KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.
However, he said the most advanced investment activity so far was in charging infrastructure and the renewable energy supporting it.
Ngcamu cited Toyota's locally produced hybrids as evidence of manufacturing capability, with opportunities to expand into batteries, electric drivetrains and charging equipment.
He said CHARGE was implementing a rollout linked to its R9.4 billion KwaZulu-Natal investment pledge, with one N3 charging station operating in the province and further passenger-vehicle and electric-truck facilities planned.
Roux said freight operators on fixed routes would also need predictable charging stops and sufficient capacity to keep deliveries moving, particularly along the country's heavily used Durban-Gauteng freight corridor.
Tax incentives and jobs in the automotive industry
A 150% tax deduction for qualifying investment in electric and hydrogen-vehicle production took effect in March 2026.
Ngcamu said the incentive “materially improves the economics of investing in local production”, particularly for a province with established component suppliers and export infrastructure.
According to naamsa, South Africa's automotive industry accounted for 113 000 manufacturing jobs, while vehicle and component exports reached R291 billion in 2025.
The council estimated that the wider automotive industry supported approximately 498 000 formal-sector jobs when indirect multiplier effects were included.