Globally, there was a rise in the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage systems, especially in regions where there was a lack of constant, reliable energy supply or more economically feasible solutions, Electric Vehicle Industry Association representative Carel Snyman said during a panel discussion on the second day of the recent Africa Energy Indaba.

Spurred by the adoption of cleaner, but variable-energy sources, declining prices and regulatory subsidies, battery energy storage systems are being increasingly used across the electric system.

The recent growth of the battery storage industry globally has prompted considerable investment, particularly in lithium-ion batteries, used in EVs, as well as in electricity grids worldwide.

The rapid development of the global EV market has seen a simultaneous rise in battery manufacturing capacity to support demand.

Sub-Saharan Africa, however, needs to revamp and modernise its transport systems to support a growing population, said Snyman.

Sector development agency GreenCape sustainable transport analyst Khanyiselo Kumalo pointed out that EV sales now contributed to about 5% of overall global vehicle sales, compared with 1% ten years ago.

While global uptake was happening at an exponential rate, the uptake of EVs in Africa was lagging behind, she added.

She said the biggest opportunity for South Africa, while policymakers caught up with incentivising EVs, was manufacturing in the value chain of EVs, such as batteries and charging infrastructure.

Kumalo believes that it is not the price of EVs that is limiting its adoption in South Africa and the rest of Africa, but rather that the vehicles are not fit-for-market.

“Consumer behaviour in South Africa typically leans to being brand loyal and they do not switch easily to other brands or modes of transport.”

Meanwhile, South African Independent Power Producer Association representative Thomas Garner said South Africa could potentially manufacture EVs at global standards and at affordable prices, but said policymakers were prohibiting such manufacturing through incentivising only combustion-engine-driven vehicles and not EVs.

Kumalo pointed out that government was unlikely to incentivise EVs, as it earned a great deal of revenue from fuel levies.

This also impacted on the rate at which original-equipment manufacturers were willing to produce EVs, rather than import them.