Cape Town to short circuit the Fuel Blues? E-hailing giant launches electric vehicle boost

Ride-hailing company Bolt will introduce as many as 500 electric vehicles into the South African market before the end of the year, the company has confirmed.

The company already operates a digital platform utilised by around 40,000 independent driver partners, and now wants to push EVs as it seeks to expand its footprint. 

The EV roll-out is a partnership with fleet managers YugoRide, initially focused on Cape Town but due to reach Johannesburg in the coming months. The EV push forms part of Bolt’s aim of promoting ‘sustainable urban mobility’ across Africa by reducing transport costs, “The fleet partnership with YugoRide aims to help strengthen the ecosystem required for scalable EV adoption in South Africa while improving driver economics through lower operational and maintenance costs associated with electric vehicles,” Bolt says in a press statement. 

“Through strategic partnerships and continued investment in sustainable mobility, Bolt aims to help accelerate the transition toward cleaner, more accessible, and economically sustainable urban transport in South Africa.”

The company has also emphasised the importance of digital technology and collaboration in resolving some of the country’s urban mobility challenges. Weyinmi Aghadiuno, Bolt's Head of Regulation and Public Policy for Africa, recently addressed the need for integrated solutions to combat Cape Town’s commuter congestion. Speaking at a Cape Chamber Strategic Dialogue Network event on urban mobility, Aghadiuno said efficiency and digitisation could reduce costs. “Once systems talk to each other we will see less fragmentation, and the high cost can be reduced.”

“There is technology that can help resolve a lot of these conversations. Instead of having these problems in silos, it is important that we all come together and align the platform, the business, the policies, the technology, and drive it into an integrated system for the citizens,” she said.  

Bolt recently joined the Cape Chamber as a Premium Member.

In other EV news this week, EV charging company Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has reportedly launched the first of two off-grid, solar-powered EV charging stations in South Africa, according to Engineering News. The charging stations are situated along the strategic Johannesburg-Durban N3 corridor.