South Africa's EV Charging Network: Where We Are in 2024

South Africa''s electric vehicle charging network has grown faster than almost anyone expected. From a handful of Tesla Destination Chargers and some slow AC points three years ago, the country now has 847 public charging points across all nine provinces. The growth has been led by Rubicon Electrical — now operating 156 fast DC chargers at its network of charging hubs — and GridCars, which manages charging infrastructure for multiple site operators. Volkswagen''s GreenPoint network has also expanded rapidly, driven by iD.4 deliveries. The Western Cape leads in charging density, with Cape Town offering workable coverage for intra-city EV use. Gauteng follows, with adequate coverage for city driving but gaps on intercity routes. The Johannesburg to Pretoria corridor is well-served; the N1 north toward Limpopo has significant gaps. The critical intercity routes between Johannesburg and Cape Town remain challenging. The N1 through the Karoo has chargers at Huguenot (Paarl), Touws River, Matjiesfontein and Beaufort West — enough for a modern long-range EV with careful planning, but requiring awareness of charging times and vehicle range. For urban drivers, the situation is increasingly good. A BYD Atto 3 owner in Cape Town or Johannesburg with home charging can realistically live without visiting a petrol station. For drivers who regularly travel more than 300km between cities, a hybrid remains more practical. Industry consensus suggests South Africa needs 2,500-3,000 public charging points to enable confident intercity EV travel — probably a 2026-2027 timeframe at current growth rates.