Electric Trucking: Why Ecosystem Readiness Matters In South Africa

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Global adoption is accelerating, but South Africa’s freight sector must balance innovation with operational certainty as it prepares for an electric future.

Electric trucks are no longer a speculative technology. Across major global markets (particularly North America, Asia, and Europe), they are increasingly visible in urban delivery fleets, port operations, and short-haul logistics routes. As governments tighten emissions regulations and manufacturers accelerate innovation, electric trucking is becoming a credible part of the transport mix — just not everywhere, and not for every use case. For South Africa, the conversation is less about ambition and more about readiness.

Recent industry data underscores this momentum. Global sales of electric trucks exceeded 90,000 units in 2024, with China accounting for more than 80% of total volumes, reflecting a shift from pilot projects to large-scale commercial deployment. While adoption in Europe and North America remains smaller in absolute terms, growth in these regions is accelerating as emissions regulations tighten and fleet operators begin electrifying urban and regional operations. 

A Technology Gaining Ground Globally

In Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, electric trucks have moved far beyond pilot projects. Manufacturers such as Volvo, Daimler Truck, BYD, and Tesla have brought battery-electric trucks into commercial production, with vehicles already operating in last-mile delivery, regional distribution and controlled industrial environments.

This progress is being driven by a combination of factors: generous government incentives, rapidly expanding charging infrastructure, reliable electricity supply, and increasingly strict emissions standards. In many cities, low-emission zones are actively pushing logistics operators toward electric alternatives, making the business case compelling and more immediate. 

Battery technology has also improved significantly. Ranges have increased, charging times have shortened, and the total cost of ownership is becoming more competitive, particularly in markets where electricity prices are stable and diesel is heavily taxed. 

The South African Reality

While global momentum is real, South Africa operates under very different conditions. The country’s freight sector is heavily dependent on long-distance road transport, often operating across thousands of kilometers with limited downtime. This alone presents a challenge for electric trucks, which currently perform best on predictable, short-to-medium-range routes with guaranteed access to charging infrastructure.

More critically, South Africa faces systematic infrastructure constraints. While load-shedding has become a distant memory, electricity supply remains unstable, public charging infrastructure for heavy vehicles is virtually non-existent, and depot-based charging would require significant grid upgrades and capital investment. 

There are early indications that the infrastructure gap is beginning to close. In January 2026, Zero Carbon Charge announced the first electric truck to be charged using a fully off-grid, solar-powered ultra-fast public charging station near Wolmaransstad. This milestone demonstrates that renewable, grid-independent freight charging is achievable under local conditions.

“Electric trucks make sense in environments where you have reliable power, short routes, and the infrastructure to support them,” commented Ryan Gaines, CEO of City Logistics. “In South Africa, those fundamentals aren’t consistently in place yet, especially for large-scale freight operations.”

Electric Truck Trials

City Logistics has already explored where electric trucks might realistically fit within the South African operating environment. The company previously trialed a battery-electric Fuso eCanter on an intra-city route between its Gosforth Park depot in Germiston and a customer in Midrand, covering an 80 km round trip daily with a full load on both legs. 

While the vehicle delivered encouraging results in terms of load-carrying ability, battery usage, and recharge times under controlled conditions, the trial also reinforced the limitations of current electric truck technology outside short, predictable routes. Gaines highlighted that electric trucks can work in specific urban applications, but remain dependent on reliable power, depot-based charging and tightly managed operations. 

Cost, Risk, & Operational Certainty

Beyond infrastructure, electric trucks still carry a substantial upfront cost premium. In markets where incentives, subsidies, or tax breaks offset these costs, adoption is accelerating. In South Africa, where such support mechanisms are limited or unclear, the financial risk sits squarely with the operator. 

For logistics companies operating on tight margins and service-level commitments, reliability is non-negotiable. Any new technology must prove not only its environmental benefits, but its ability to perform consistently under local operating conditions. 

“From an operational perspective, uptime, range certainty and maintenance support matter more than headlight technology,” Gaines notes. “Until electric trucks can offer the same level of predictability as diesel in our operating environment, widespread adoption will remain cautious.”

Watching, Testing, & Preparing

This does not mean South Africa is disconnected from global trends. Logistics operators are actively monitoring developments, engaging with manufacturers and assessing where electric trucks may eventually fit — particularly in niche applications such as urban delivery or closed-loop routes.

The difference is one of timing and context. In South Africa, the transition to electric trucking is likely to be gradual, shaped by improvements in energy stability, charging infrastructure and total cost economics.

“There’s a big difference between being resistant to change and being realistic about readiness,” concluded Gaines. “The technology is advancing fast, but adoption has to align with local conditions. When those conditions improve, the conversation changes very quickly.”

There have been calls from various stakeholders for the South African government to prioritize policy for electric vehicles, including large electric trucks. Fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for electric vehicles would be welcome and would go a long way in improving the unit economics and business case for fleet operators to go electric.

Author: Jarryd Neves 

Image courtesy of City Logistics