Some EV logistics making cents
Expensive fuel is making more operators think about EVs. But what are the options, really?
The 1970s oil crisis was the making of smaller engines and turbocharging. But is the Persian Gulf crisis and rising fuel prices a similar moment of reckoning and opportunity for EVs in the commercial fleet space?
South Africa has not been an EV-curious market. Last year, passenger vehicle EV sales regressed. In the commercial vehicles space, the potential is different. Logisticians and fleet experts make decisions based on data and pure operational economics. That creates the hope that the current fuel price issue could convince more fleets to integrate EVs into their operations.
Short-haul options
For shorthaul fleets operating in the urban logistics environment, EV economics are very tempting, although product availability remains very limited.
Light commercial EVs from DFSK and LDV subbrand, Maxus, have adequate battery capacity and range to operate with confidence across Johannesburg or Cape Town. These DFSK and Maxus EV vans are operating successfully within South African short-haul fleets. For long-haul operators in the traditional 6x4 heavy-duty segment of the logistics market, it’ s very different. Unlike shorthaul EVs, which can operate and recharge overnight, long-haul logistics is a 24 / 7 business. The time and cost of charging along the N1 or N3 are just too high and time-consuming. That’ s before the issue of available EV heavyduty truck models and upfront capital costs are calculated.
Heavy-duty EVs
SANY’ s EV trucks are known for their swappable battery technology, which effectively addresses downtime associated with recharging for vehicles that require such high battery capacity. But that also raises the question of battery multiplication. The potential additional cost of having to resource two battery packs per truck in the fleet, to ensure swappability and continuous uptime.
A significant advantage of SANY’ s swappable batteries, especially for severe-duty operators, is that they can be recharged more slowly, preserving cell integrity and extending the lifecycle. Instead of trying to minimise downtime by using powerful, high-capacity charging cycles, which often have long-term detrimental effects on battery packs. For long-haul, heavy-duty operators, the math around EV 6x4s remains a problem in South Africa. The time loss from an en route charging event is still just too high.
For mining and construction operators, moving heavy loads within a contained zone of operations, with much smaller duty cycle distances, heavy-duty EV trucks are starting to make sense. Especially when linked to the significant investment many mines have already made in being power self-sufficient, creating the opportunity to plug into a true zero-cost‘ fuel’ resource for fleets.
Technically, there are advanced solutions for long-haul or severe-duty EV truck needs in South Africa. SANY, the Chinese leader in EV trucks, has a fleet of its heavy-duty models operating in several local fleets, being tested under the most demanding conditions.
WORDS IN ACTION 26 APRIL 2026