The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) on Wednesday launched the multistakeholder Uyilo E-mobility programme, which would seek to accelerate the development of new technologies to create a commercially viable infrastructure for the use of electric vehicles (EVs) throughout South Africa.

The programme, which would be hosted by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and supported by several private vehicle manufacturers, as well as power utility Eskom and petrochemicals group Sasol, would involve research and development in the technology and infrastructure required to support electric and hybrid vehicles.

The envisaged nationwide electrical systems support network would include charging stations, battery testing facilities and rehandling facilities.

Infrastructure would be developed with the objective that it be usable by several makes of EVs, rather than each manufacturer developing their own infrastructure.

Significantly, the programme encouraged collaboration with any entrepreneur, researcher or inventor in South Africa that was looking to accelerate development and commercialisation of their systems.

The NMMU would provide a live testing facility at which research activities could be undertaken, while private sector partners would provide market experience and expertise and TIA would provide funding.

Further, research and development would focus on issues around reconciling the electrically powered vehicles’ storage system with an improved driving range, the study of associated electricity tariffs, the extent of required infrastructure, as well as a study of consumer behaviour.

TIA CEO Simphiwe Duma said that, in cooperation with its project partners, the agency would seek not only to develop an “ecosystem” to support electric vehicle technology, but, in the process, also promote economic growth.

“The launch of this programme is not only driven by the objective of developing electric vehicle technology, but is also an initiative to ensure that we can remain globally competitive,” he commented.

TIA chairperson Dr Mamphela Rampele noted at the launch that the success of the programme would be determined by its ability to develop a truly sustainable, community-driven electric ecosystem for future generations.

“This is a grand coalition that must be intergenerational. I am excited by the collaboration in the light of the challenges we face as a nation,” she said.

The Uyilo programme would follow on from a previous electric car project by the TIA, which saw the development of South Africa’s first locally designed and manufactured electric vehicle, the Joule.

Engineering News Online reported in December that, while a technical success, the Joule was a commercial failure.

“It failed spectacularly in terms of its market penetration,” Duma conceded at the time.

“The problem was that the car had been developed in isolation and fundamental issues had been ignored. Perhaps most importantly, there was no recharging infrastructure in South Africa to support the car and, consequently, no one was interested in buying it.”

The TIA hoped to overcome the challenges experienced during the Joule project through the Uyilo programme’s adoption of a holistic approach that would focus on both electric vehicle technology, as well as the infrastructure required to support it.