South Africa currently lacks comprehensive incentives for electric mobility, unlike countries such as Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Mauritius, which have eliminated import duties on electric vehicles. In South Africa, imported electric vehicles are subject to higher taxes and duties than their internal combustion engine counterparts.
Kenya has implemented a special electricity tariff for electric mobility, charging KES 16 per kWh during peak times and KES 8 per kWh during off-peak hours. This compares to standard commercial rates of approximately KES 20 per kWh and residential rates of KES 30 per kWh. The government recently removed the 15 000 kWh monthly cap for these users.
Kenya Power reported that revenue from the electric mobility sector rose from KES 65,6 million in 2025 to KES 185,3 million in the 2026 financial year. Total electricity revenue for the company increased by KES 18,96 billion to KES 238,24 billion, with total sales reaching 12 777 GWh.
Golden Arrow Bus Services, which operates 1 200 buses, including 120 electric units, is advocating for similar tariff support in South Africa. The company plans to add 40 more electric buses. Currently, the operator faces a 25% tariff hike for off-peak electricity, which is when the majority of its charging occurs.
Eskom has achieved 504 consecutive days without loadshedding as of May 16, 2025, with an Energy Availability Factor of 68,11%. Despite this operational improvement, Eskom reported a decline in electricity sales of over 6% during the financial year, prompting calls for new demand-side incentives like special e-mobility tariffs.
