City Power Swaps Gears: Electric Vehicles to Drive Joburg’s Greener Future

From petrol fumes to clean energy dreams, Johannesburg is gearing up for a bold shift in how its maintenance teams hit the streets.

City Power, Johannesburg’s electricity utility, has officially begun replacing its fossil-fuel vehicle fleet with electric vehicles (EVs) a landmark move for the city’s green ambitions. The initiative kicks off with a series of EV charging stations already delivered and ready to plug into the future.

Powering Progress, One Charging Station at a Time

Announced this week, City Power’s EV rollout is more than just a symbolic gesture. It’s part of a multi-pronged strategy to modernise Johannesburg’s infrastructure, slash carbon emissions, and ease the burden of fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

“These vehicles will range from light-duty maintenance vans to heavy-duty trucks used in our day-to-day technical work,” said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.

First stop? City Power depots and operational sites. Then, the utility plans to install charging infrastructure along major roads and at bus depots, with eventual expansion into public zones and townships, empowering ordinary residents and businesses to go electric too.

Joburg’s EV Moment: From Talk to Traction

City Power isn’t just hoping for an eco-friendlier city, it’s building it.

The agency confirmed plans to introduce battery-swapping stations in high-demand areas, tackling one of the most cited concerns around EVs: long charging times. These smart solutions echo international best practices and could help Joburg leapfrog into a cleaner, smarter urban future.

According to CEO Tshifularo Mashava, the time for electric mobility is now.

“The world is rapidly shifting from internal combustion engines to electric-powered alternatives. This change is driven by the urgent need to decarbonise and fight climate change.”

With Europe phasing out fossil-fuel vehicle imports, and South Africa exporting over 70% of its locally produced vehicles to the EU and UK, Mashava says Johannesburg cannot afford to stand still.

Greening More Than Just the Roads

City Power’s green push goes well beyond electric vehicles. In recent years, the utility has launched solar microgrid installations in Alexandra, with ongoing projects in Shalazil, Vlakfontein, and Vukani, among others. These microgrids help reduce load on the main grid while offering off-grid energy access in under-served communities.

Other recent wins include:

• Solar-powered street masts in crime hotspots

• Solar PV systems for public hospitals, clinics, and schools

• Collaborations with universities for solar energy training programmes

All of this signals a strategic pivot from reactive maintenance to proactive, sustainable infrastructure planning.

From the Streets to the Future: Why This Matters

Johannesburg’s carbon footprint is among the highest on the continent. So this isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a necessary pivot toward future-proofing the city’s energy model and preparing the local economy for the global green transition.

And for a utility that has long been in the headlines for grid instability and service complaints, City Power is showing signs of real, transformative leadership.

It’s not without challenges. Maintaining consistent EV performance, managing costs, and expanding public infrastructure in a city as vast and varied as Joburg won’t be easy. But with this move, City Power is literally putting wheels under the city’s climate ambitions.

As Mangena puts it:

“The switch is vital for the environment, but it also makes financial sense.”

The revolution will not be petrol-powered.

{Source: The Citizen}

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