Until the 1980s, South Africa was a world leader in electric delivery vehicles – the ubiquitous milk floats.
They were simple, durable and ideal for short delivery routes – and, apart from a hum, the only noise early in the morning was the clinking of the milk and orange juice bottles. Local milk floats were either imported or modelled on British designs modified for use in South Africa.
They disappeared from the roads because the market and society changed, not due to the technology.
More recently, the Clicks Group and United Pharmaceutical Distributors partnered with Everlectric and Investec Sustainable Solutions to introduce what they believe to be South Africa’s first fleet of pharma-compliant electric vehicles (EVs) with solar-powered refrigeration.
Rolling out in Gauteng and the Western Cape from February 2025, the fleet of 42 Maxus eDeliver 3 panel vans is supplied by global EV brand SAIC Maxus and distributed by Everlectric. The refrigerated cargo box is powered solely by solar panels.
Locally assembled from lightweight composite structural PVC, the refrigeration boxes are 50% (200 kg) lighter than standard models, according to the supplier.
South African-made EVs are once again on the streets in the form of MellowVans, which are assembled in Stellenbosch. They have four cubic metres of lockable cargo area and cost 15c per kilometre to operate, according to the manufacturers. An onboard inverter overcomes the need to invest in special charging stations.
The vehicles are available on full maintenance lease, which is aimed at independent drivers and promoted as an alternative to a motorbike.
Also on the road in the major centres are 1,9- and four-ton trucks supplied by JAC Motors of China.
Takealot, in partnership with Aeversa, Avis and JAC Motors, started running a three-ton JAC N55 EV truck in late 2021. In 2022, it added 11 four-ton JAC N75 EV trucks to its fleet – seven in Johannesburg and four in Cape Town.
Shoprite has been piloting a 40-ton refrigerated Scania EV, which can hold approximately 16 pallets, has solar panels on the roof and an electric cooling system powered by the vehicle battery packs. It has a 350 km range, according to Shoprite.
In May 2023, Woolworths partnered with DSV and Everlectric to roll out electric panel vans for the delivery of online purchases. They have a range of 300 km and cover between 150 km and 220 km a day, according to Woolworths.
