Last year, about one in every five cars sold globally was an electric vehicle. Norway leads the charge, with 92% of new cars sold being electric. China is close to 50%, while the United States sits at 10%. In South Africa, it’s just three in every 500, a small share, but the trend is heading in the right direction.

Sales of battery electric vehicles in South Africa have accelerated from just 160 in 2019 to 1,200 in 2024. Add plug-in hybrids, and the 2024 total approaches 2,000.

Two big hurdles remain: price and concerns about charging infrastructure. Most charging, 80% to 90%, happens at home, says Hiten Parmar of non-profit Electric Mission in a webinar hosted by EE Publishers on 6 August 2025. Still, there are now 385 charging stations in South Africa, according to Plugshare, making road trips from Jo’burg to Durban feasible.