Eskom and Golden Arrow Fuel South Africa's Electric Transport Revolution

In a landmark development for South Africa's public transportation and energy sectors, Eskom Distribution, in partnership with premier public bus service provider Golden Arrow, is driving the country towards an electrified, sustainable future. Eskom has officially set in motion a pilot project that unveils electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, marking a progressive stride towards achieving its target of a fully electrified fleet by 2040.

The initiative, in collaboration with GridCars, sees the installation of cutting-edge EV charging infrastructure at ten stations scattered over five strategically selected sites nationwide. These locations include the Eskom Academy of Learning in Midrand, Brackenfell in Cape Town, Mkondeni in Pietermaritzburg, Tlhabane Customer Network Centre in Rustenburg, and Mbombela's Marathon Customer Network Centre.

This move aligns with Eskom's broader aspiration to cut carbon emissions significantly by 2050, supporting a green South Africa. The deployment of the EV charging stations supports twenty electric vehicles, with a range including light delivery vans to light trucks earmarked for usage in Eskom's operational activities. With chargers comprising 60 kW DC Fast Chargers and 22 kW Dual AC Chargers, the infrastructure is equipped for accommodating overnight charging for fleet vehicles and sufficing daytime customer service needs.

Gabriel Kgabo, the General Manager in the office of the Group Executive at Eskom, elucidated the dual benefit of this strategy: reducing Eskom's carbon footprint, while simultaneously sparking growth in the local EV marketplace. This trajectory places Eskom at the vanguard of the electric vehicle revolution, where fostering new markets and conforming to international EV standards become pivotal.

Parallel to these developments, a dynamic collaborative effort is unfolding between Eskom and Golden Arrow Bus Services. The latter has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Eskom, igniting a plan to replace 10% of its bus fleet with electric alternatives by the close of 2025. Such initiatives are all-encompassing, considering the usage of Eskom-generated electricity and canvasing renewable energy prospects from private sector entities.

Golden Arrow CEO, Francois Meyer, highlighted the magnitude of joint ventures in actualizing the large-scale introduction of electric buses. He stated that this collaboration would fortify a public bus service that is not only safe and reliable but also economically efficient.

The project stands further emboldened by the National Treasury's incentives and the Department of Trade Industry and Competition’s EV White Paper released in December 2023. South Africa now finds itself at the cusp of an era that promises transformative change in its approach to sustainable transportation.

This endeavor, steered by Eskom in tandem with Golden Arrow, has set a precedent for participation by public utilities in electric mobility. It lays a solid foundation for improved energy security and supports a long-term sustainability vision in South Africa and the broader sub-Saharan region.