EV charging
Should my South African business offer workplace or destination EV charging?
For most SA offices and retail sites, managed AC wallboxes (7–22 kW) beat a single expensive DC pile. Staff cars sit for hours; customers need a reliable Type 2 post while they shop. Reserve battery-buffered DC for depots that must turn vehicles around fast on a weak grid supply.
Answer first: Match charger speed to dwell time. Eight-hour parking = AC. Thirty-minute pit stop = DC. Oversized DC on a thin supply is how projects stall waiting for a municipal upgrade.
Workplace vs home vs public
| Place | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home overnight | ~7.4 kW AC wallbox | Cheapest kWh; covers most commuting |
| Office / warehouse day park | 7–22 kW AC, load-managed | Cars sit; share the DB budget |
| Mall / hotel destination | AC posts + selective DC | Guest experience; app billing |
| Fleet depot turnaround | Battery-buffered DC or three-phase AC banks | kW when time is money |
What businesses should specify
- Load management across every bay so the main breaker does not trip at 17:00.
- RFID / app access so staff and guests are billed correctly.
- Solar soak — midday PV surplus into cars before you export at a thin feed-in rate.
- CoC and insurance — fixed EVSE is an electrical installation, not an appliance.
Battery-buffered DC when the grid is the bottleneck
SAEV Charge (powered by Solar MD) pitches 120 kW+ charging from as little as ~10 kW of grid supply by buffering in an on-site battery — a company claim via SONAH Group’s October 2026 distributor announcement. Physics still caps daily kWh by supply + solar + battery size; confirm on a site survey. See SONAH × SAEV news and fleet charging basics.
Public evidence on tariffs: SAEV’s Richmond DC site at the Solar MD factory has drawn drivers at ~R3.49/kWh (R2.49 when the battery is above 90%) versus GridCars ~R7.35/kWh DC, per DriveElectric / MyBroadband, Oct 2026. Destination hosts set their own rates — do not assume Richmond prices everywhere.
Cost and savings angle
Workplace charging is often a staff benefit and a diesel-avoidance tool, not a profit centre. Price sessions near or below public AC (~R5–R6/kWh on some operator FAQs) if you want utilisation; or recover cost only. Pair with rooftop PV so daytime sessions displace expensive grid peaks.