SA’s first electric minibus taxi to launch soon, but will it be viable?

That is going to depend on a variety of factors, but a pioneering effort is about to unfold with the imminent launch of the eKamva electric minibus.

Billed as South Africa’s first electric minibus taxi model, the project is being launched by GoMetro, which is leading a partnership of companies and research institutions which have been investigating the feasibility of electric taxis in South Africa since 2023.

The 15-seater eKamva has a claimed range of “more than 200km” between charges, GoMetro says. Furthermore, it can be fast-charged within 75 minutes at a 60kW DC charger, while conventional overnight charging is said to take about 10 hours.

“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,” GoMetro CEO Justin Coetzee said.

“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,” Coetzee added.

The company estimates that the electric minibus could reduce running costs for operators by between 40 percent and 70 percent, depending on the taxi route in question and factoring in the cost of electricity versus the price of fuel.

However, the big determining factor, in the overall cost equation, will be the actual price of the vehicle and that is only set to be announced when the vehicle is launched onto the market in early 2025.

Owners and operators will also need to take into account that fast-charging, which they’ll typically need to conduct between rush hours, costs more than home charging.

The eKamva is currently undergoing local homologation, and a prototype will be on display at Smarter Mobility Africa at Gallagher Convention Centre from October 2 to 4.

Charging infrastructure will, of course, also be a deciding factor for potential operators, but to that end, the eKamva will be launched as part of an integrated business model and charging infrastructure called Flx EV.

According to GoMetro, Flx EV is currently in the process of developing charging hubs with partners across South Africa, with the first of these set to appear in Century City and Stellenbosch in the coming year.

There will also be a Flx EV app that allows taxi owners to manage their fleets, see each vehicle’s charge status and pre-pay for recharging. It will also direct drivers to their closest charging hub. — IOL