Because most electric vehicle charging stations are generally positioned outside, they are more vulnerable to the effects of direct lightning strikes, as well as the possibility of resultant surges.
In mid-2019, there were an estimated one thousand electric vehicles (EV) registered in South Africa,and in October of last year, the practicality of the local charging network was tested when seven EVs went on a road trip from Pretoria to Cape Town. The road trip was organised by Generation.e – an events company with a mission to accelerate EV adoption - in partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Government, the African Alliance for Energy Productivity and the Department of Transport.
As at early 2020, there are reported to be 132 designated charging stations throughout South Africa, with brands such as Renault, Mini Cooper, Porsche and Audi preparing to add either fully electric or hybrid vehicles in 2020 to the existing offerings from Nissan (the Nissan Leaf), BMW (i3) and Jaguar(I-PACE). Most car experts agree that the adoption of electric cars is bound to increase in the next few years as more public charging stations become available throughout the country.
Dehn Africa