Johannesburg rolls out first EV charging stations to cut fleet fuel costs
Johannesburg has officially opened its first electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, a move the city says will reduce fuel spending for municipal operations while helping shift the metro toward cleaner transport. Speaking at the launch at City Power’s offices on Tuesday, Mayor Dada Morero framed the project as part of a broader transformation in how the city thinks about energy and mobility.
The initiative is being rolled out through City Power, Johannesburg’s electricity utility, and will begin with a limited installation before expanding further across the city. Morero said the stations are intended to act as a pilot programme, allowing the municipality to test use patterns and plan for growth based on affordability and demand.
Johannesburg EV charging rollout begins with pilot phase
City Power has installed 14 EV charging stations as part of the first phase. Morero described the pilot as a practical first step, saying Johannesburg will monitor uptake, operational performance, and financial sustainability before expanding the network into other areas.
“We took a decision as part of a turnaround strategy that we are no longer just an electricity business but an energy business,” Morero told those present during the launch. His message was that electric transport requires more than charging infrastructure—it also depends on how energy is produced, stored, and delivered.
Morero noted that the EV programme is not entirely new to the city. Johannesburg started exploring electric mobility nearly a decade ago, with early testing of electric vehicles in its own fleet during 2014 and 2015. However, he said progress slowed after the 2016 local government elections, and the city is now picking the project back up with the charging network as a key enabler.
According to the mayor, moving municipal vehicles toward electricity could help Johannesburg reduce what it spends on petrol and diesel. He also said residents would benefit indirectly through improved savings and the ability to reallocate municipal funds.
Johannesburg currently operates a fleet of about 2,000 vehicles across different departments. Morero argued that fuel costs remain a heavy burden, and EVs could lower recurring expenditure—particularly if the city accelerates the transition rather than moving slowly.
Expected savings and why the charging network matters
Morero provided estimates of the potential savings under different approaches. Under a leasing model, he said the city could generate savings of about R29.7 million annually. If vehicles were purchased outright over a five-year period, he said savings could rise to roughly R49.3 million per year.
He also emphasised that the city spends “a lot of money” on diesel and fuel for internal operations. The idea, he said, is that quicker adoption of EVs would free up money for service delivery, shifting spending away from fuel and into programmes that directly affect residents.
While the chargers are primarily part of the municipality’s own EV rollout, Morero said the stations will also be accessible to residents who own electric vehicles. The city is still finalising tariffs for public use, but Morero indicated the pricing strategy will be shaped by the goal of making charging competitive.
He said that although charging costs have not yet been locked in, the city expects it will be cheaper than refuelling petrol or diesel vehicles. Final pricing, however, depends on ongoing work around how the network will be managed and what rates will be sustainable.
Before any wider expansion, the city plans to evaluate whether the pilot stations are being used effectively and whether the project can deliver a healthy return on investment. Morero said rollout decisions will be influenced by the results, with expansion aimed at areas where residents with EVs will have access.
Future charging tech on the table, plus energy upgrades
Morero hinted that future phases could be more advanced than the initial stations. Among the possibilities mentioned were supercharging stations designed for faster charging times. He also raised the prospect of battery swapping, where drivers exchange empty batteries for fully charged ones—comparable to changing a gas cylinder.
Beyond the charging points themselves, Morero said Johannesburg’s EV programme is tied to wider work on the city’s energy systems. He described the EV plan as part of how the municipality is changing the way energy is generated and distributed, arguing that South Africa and Johannesburg can’t afford to fall behind international transport trends.
The mayor also pointed to other investments being made by the city, including solar power, microgrids for informal settlements, and large-scale solar farms, all aimed at reducing electricity costs. City Power is also exploring battery storage systems, which would allow Johannesburg to buy electricity during cheaper tariffs from Eskom, store it, and use it during peak demand.
Morero said battery storage could help the city manage the financial pressure of electricity prices, which he described as having become too high. In his view, these energy upgrades are closely connected to the sustainability of EV charging infrastructure.
He acknowledged concerns about vandalism, a known risk for public infrastructure in many areas. Morero said security measures will be introduced as the charging network expands and urged residents to help protect facilities built for the community.
“All of us must stand up against lawlessness and vandalism, we must protect the infrastructure built for our communities,” he said, adding that community involvement would be essential for safeguarding the rollout.
At the same time, the mayor linked the charging stations to environmental outcomes, saying the project supports emissions reduction and improved air quality. “We are contributing to clean air and mitigating against climate change,” he added.
For Johannesburg, the launch marks an important early step in turning electric mobility from a pilot concept into an expanding public service—beginning with 14 chargers, careful monitoring, and a plan to scale up only when the model proves both practical and affordable for the city and its residents.