Electric taxi hits the road in South Africa
A consortium led by GoMetro has launched South Africa’s first electric minibus taxi model, eKamva.
The new vehicle is accompanied by an integrated new electric vehicle (EV) business model and charging infrastructure product called Flex EV.
GoMetro said that the 15-seater eKamva has a range of more than 200km between charges.
It also fast-charges within 75 minutes via a 60kW DC charger and slow-charges overnight for 10 hours.
Depending on the fuel price (inland vs coastal) and the distance of the taxi route, eKamva could deliver an estimated 40-70% cost savings over traditional vehicles on running costs.
The eKamva currently undergoing homologation (being certified compliant with local safety and vehicle standards) by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications.
Since 2023, the project team, consisting of GoMetro, Powerfleet (formerly MiX Telematics), HSW, ACDC Dynamics, and various entities within Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Engineering, has conducted rigorous and extensive testing on the existing taxi route in and around Stellenbosch.
Minibus taxis transport millions of South Africans daily but contribute an estimated 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in South Africa alone and consume two billion tonnes of fuel a year.
flx EV is in the process of developing charging hubs with partners across South Africa, with the first hubs slated for development in Century City and Stellenbosch.
Project lead Rudi Kriel says historical data gathered by GoMetro indicates that replacing urban taxi and shuttle fleets with eKamvas will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 13.7 tonnes per vehicle per annum.
“Most taxis spend up to three hours a day between morning and evening peak hours at the ranks we have analysed, more than sufficient time to fast-charge an eKwamva,” said Kriel.
“EVs have fewer breakdowns than internal combustion vehicles, and are cheaper to run, which leads to increased profitability per vehicle – and they have a longer life expectancy.”
“EVs also reduce nitrous oxides, sulphur oxides and particulate matter (known as PM2.5 particles) in the air, improving community health, a major cost factor for the government.”
“They (PM2.5s) are small enough to enter deep into the lungs when inhaled, causing wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing – and some may even get into our bloodstreams.”
Professor Thinus Booysen, Research Chair in the Internet of Things at Stellenbosch University, led the team of testing experts.
“The informal taxi sector must transform to EVs, but little is known about their energy requirements,” said Booysen.
“This unknown is overshadowed by our energy scarcity and coal dependence on the electricity supply side. This collaborative project will ensure we are prepared for and carefully manage this exciting transition.”
Dr Bernard Bekker, Associate Director of Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, said that the future electrification of the transport section in South Africa raises significant technical and regulatory challenges when it comes to integrating electric transport into our existing grid infrastructure.
These challenges are also unique to South Africa, where minibus taxis represent a much larger proportion of the future electrical fleet than, for example, in Europe or the USA.
“The availability of a real-life electric minibus taxi to inform our research activities will provide very valuable inputs into addressing these challenges,” said Bekker.
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