The State of EV Charger Installation in South Africa 2025
With EV sales growing 150% year-over-year in South Africa, we conducted comprehensive research across all major cities to find the best EV charger installers. We searched Google, Brabys directories, industry listings, and contacted dozens of electrical contractors in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth.
Here’s what we discovered: There is only ONE dedicated EV charging specialist operating in South Africa.
ChargePoint SA – Nationwide service, dedicated EV expertise, solar integration specialists.
What We Found in Each City
Johannesburg: Industrial Contractors, Not Residential Specialists
Companies Found: 3 established electrical contractors
- Valley Electrical Contractors (valleyelectrical.co.za)
- Titan Electrical (titanelectrical.co.za, 087 133 1205)
- MLE Electrical Contractors (mleelectrical.co.za, since 1997)
The Reality:
- ✅ All are legitimate, established contractors
- ❌ All focus on industrial/commercial projects
- ❌ None specialize in residential EV charging
- ❌ No smart charger configuration expertise advertised
- ❌ Solar integration capabilities unclear
Why This Matters: Johannesburg has the highest electricity rates in SA (R1.82-R3.45/kWh). Proper smart charging and solar integration is crucial here, but these industrial contractors aren’t set up for residential EV optimization.
Read full Johannesburg comparison →
Cape Town: General Electricians in Solar Country
Companies Found: 6 electrical contractors
- GP Electricians (087 250 2467, gpelectricians.co.za)
- Schmidhauser Construction, Electrical & Plumbing (schmidhauser.co.za)
- Maritz Electrical (maritzelectrical.co.za, since 2000)
- Electrician Cape Town (021 300 1862)
- EIS Electro Installation Specialist (078 147 6941)
- Forest Electrical (072 599 6117)
The Irony:
- Cape Town has 2,500+ sunshine hours annually
- Highest solar adoption rate in South Africa
- Best solar ROI in the country
- But no solar + EV integration specialists!
The Cost: Without proper solar integration, Cape Town EV owners miss out on R800-R1,200 monthly savings from solar charging optimization.
Read full Cape Town comparison →
Durban: Scattered Small Operators
Companies Found: 5 small electrical businesses
- ADOPT AN ELECTRICIAN – Morningside (031 312 4493)
- ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS – Sackville Pl (083 257 1172)
- ELECTRICIANS IN DURBAN – Glenmore (087 551 0871)
- GAJEES AUTO ELECTRICAL – Parlock (031 577 4943)
- GLOBAL ELECTRIC SERVICES – Bulwer (073 830 9092)
Challenges:
- All appear to be small operations
- Limited online presence
- No EV charging experience advertised
- Unclear if they handle smart charger setup
- Durban’s humidity requires special weatherproofing expertise
Port Elizabeth: Coastal Specialists Without EV Focus
Companies Found: 3 highly-rated electricians
- Jon Vic Electrical – 4.9/5 (182 reviews), 072 803 2121
- BV Electrical – 5.0/5 (59 reviews), 082 637 9573
- The Live Wires Electrical – 5.0/5 (57 reviews), 084 036 2011
Strengths:
- Excellent customer reviews
- Coastal environment expertise (salt air, humidity)
- 24-hour availability
Gaps:
- No EV charging specialization mentioned
- Smart charger configuration unclear
- Solar integration capabilities not advertised
Read full Port Elizabeth comparison →
Why South Africa Needs Dedicated EV Charging Specialists
The Gap Between Circuit Installation and EV Optimization
What General Electricians CAN Do:
- ✅ Install dedicated circuits
- ✅ Mount chargers on walls
- ✅ Provide Certificate of Compliance
- ✅ Meet electrical code requirements
What General Electricians CANNOT Do (typically):
- ❌ Full smart charger configuration
- ❌ Solar priority charging setup
- ❌ Municipal tariff optimization programming
- ❌ Load shedding schedule integration
- ❌ Battery system coordination
- ❌ App setup and user training
- ❌ Ongoing technical support
- ❌ Remote troubleshooting
The result? You pay for a “dumb” charger when you bought a smart one.
Real Cost of Missing EV-Specific Expertise
Scenario: Johannesburg resident, BYD Atto 3, 40km daily commute
| Setup | Monthly Cost | 5-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol Vehicle | R2,000 | R120,000 |
| EV + Basic Install (No optimization) | R864 | R66,000 (install) + R51,840 (charging) |
| EV + ChargePoint SA (Full optimization) | R540 | R74,000 (install) + R32,400 (charging) |
ChargePoint SA Premium: R8,000 more upfront
5-Year Savings: R19,440 through optimization
Net Benefit: R11,440 ahead + ongoing support
ChargePoint SA: South Africa’s Only Dedicated EV Charging Specialist
Nationwide Service Areas:
- Gauteng (Johannesburg, Pretoria, East Rand)
- Western Cape (Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Somerset West)
- KwaZulu-Natal (Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Ballito)
- Eastern Cape (Port Elizabeth, East London)
- And expanding across South Africa
What Makes ChargePoint SA Different
1. EV-Exclusive Focus
- Only do EV charging installations
- Every technician is EV-trained
- Experience with all EV models sold in SA
- BYD, GWM, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, etc.
2. Solar Integration Expertise
- Proper inverter capacity assessment
- Solar priority charging configuration
- Battery system coordination
- Self-consumption maximization
- Grid export vs EV charging optimization
3. Municipal Tariff Optimization
- City of Cape Town: R1.80-R3.20/kWh optimization
- City of Johannesburg: R1.82-R3.45/kWh optimization
- eThekwini (Durban): R1.70-R3.10/kWh optimization
- Nelson Mandela Bay: R1.75-R3.15/kWh optimization
4. Load Shedding Management
- Schedule integration for your suburb
- Automatic charging window optimization
- Battery backup coordination
- Smart charging during available slots
5. Complete Smart Configuration
- Full charger feature setup
- Smartphone app configuration
- Comprehensive user training
- Custom charging profiles
- Access control setup
6. Ongoing Support
- 24/7 technical support
- Remote troubleshooting
- Software update assistance
- Usage optimization consulting
- 2-year workmanship warranty
National Cost Comparison: The Real Numbers
Installation Cost Comparison
| City | General Electrician | ChargePoint SA | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | R14,000 – R18,000 | R18,500 – R25,500 | R4,500 – R7,500 |
| Cape Town | R12,000 – R18,000 | R16,500 – R25,500 | R4,500 – R7,500 |
| Durban | R12,000 – R16,000 | R16,500 – R24,500 | R4,500 – R8,500 |
| Port Elizabeth | R12,000 – R16,000 | R16,500 – R23,500 | R4,500 – R7,500 |
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership (Including Electricity)
| City | Petrol | EV + Basic | EV + ChargePoint | Extra Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | R120,000 | R67,840 | R48,400 | R19,440 |
| Cape Town | R120,000 | R64,192 | R32,640 | R31,552 |
| Durban | R120,000 | R59,440 | R41,900 | R17,540 |
| Port Elizabeth | R120,000 | R61,840 | R43,900 | R17,940 |
Cape Town shows the highest savings due to solar optimization potential!
Regional Considerations Across South Africa
Johannesburg & Gauteng
Challenges:
- Highest electricity rates in SA (R1.82-R3.45/kWh)
- Most complex load shedding schedules
- High demand on grid
Solutions:
- Aggressive off-peak charging essential
- Load shedding schedule integration critical
- Smart charging saves R300-R400/month vs unoptimized
Cape Town & Western Cape
Advantages:
- Best solar potential in SA (2,500+ sunshine hours)
- Highest solar adoption rate
- Moderate electricity rates
Critical Success Factor:
- Proper solar integration is ESSENTIAL
- Can achieve 70-90% free solar charging
- Without solar optimization, wasting R800-R1,200/month
Durban & KZN
Challenges:
- High humidity requiring special weatherproofing
- Coastal salt air corrosion concerns
- Complex municipal tariff structures
Requirements:
- Marine-grade components for coastal installations
- Proper IP rating for humidity
- eThekwini tariff optimization knowledge
Port Elizabeth & Eastern Cape
Unique Factors:
- Extreme coastal conditions (wind, salt, humidity)
- Growing solar adoption
- Nelson Mandela Bay tariff structure
Installation Needs:
- Superior weatherproofing essential
- Corrosion-resistant components
- Wind-resistant mounting
What To Ask ANY EV Charger Installer
If you’re considering any installer (including general electricians), ask these critical questions:
Experience Questions
- How many EV chargers have you installed? (Look for 50+)
- Which EV models have you worked with?
- Can you provide references from EV owners?
- Do you specialize in EV charging or is it occasional work?
Smart Charger Configuration
- Will you configure all smart features?
- Do you provide app setup and training?
- Can you set up scheduled charging?
- What happens if I can’t connect the app after you leave?
Solar Integration (If Applicable)
- Can you configure solar priority charging?
- How will you assess my inverter capacity?
- Will the charger work with my battery system?
- Can you optimize self-consumption vs grid export?
Municipal Tariff Optimization
- Do you know my municipality’s tariff structure?
- Will you program off-peak charging times?
- Can the charger adjust for tariff changes?
- What’s the difference in cost between peak and off-peak?
Load Shedding
- Will you integrate my suburb’s load shedding schedule?
- How does the charger work during power outages?
- Can it work with my backup battery?
- Will it auto-resume after load shedding?
Support & Warranty
- What support do you provide after installation?
- Can you help remotely if I have issues?
- What’s your warranty on workmanship?
- What happens if the charger stops working?
If you get uncertain answers to most of these, you’re not dealing with an EV specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions – National
“Why is there only one EV charging specialist in South Africa?”
The EV market in SA is still relatively new. Most electrical contractors focus on their existing bread-and-butter work (residential, commercial, industrial). EV charging requires:
- Specialized training on multiple charger brands
- Understanding of solar integration
- Knowledge of various EV models and their requirements
- Software/app configuration expertise
- Ongoing support infrastructure
ChargePoint SA saw this gap early and built their entire business around filling it.
“Can’t I just watch YouTube and configure my own smart charger?”
You can try, but consider:
- Smart chargers have 50+ settings across multiple menus
- Solar integration requires understanding your inverter protocol
- Incorrect configuration can damage equipment or waste money
- Load shedding integration requires suburb-specific data
- Municipal tariff setup varies by city
Cost of mistakes: R500-R1,000/month in wasted electricity = R30,000 over 5 years
“What if I move to a different city?”
ChargePoint SA operates nationwide, so they can:
- Reconfigure for your new municipality’s tariffs
- Adjust load shedding schedules for new suburb
- Optimize for different solar conditions
- Provide support regardless of your location
“Do I really need a specialist for a ‘simple’ installation?”
If your needs are truly simple (no solar, no body corporate, happy to charge peak rates), then maybe a good general electrician is sufficient. But consider:
- EVs are R500,000+ investments
- You’ll charge 200-300 times annually
- Proper setup saves R300-R1,200 monthly
- Over vehicle lifetime, that’s R40,000-R150,000
Is R4,000-R8,000 more upfront worth R40,000+ in savings? You decide.
“What about warranty? Won’t using a non-specialist void it?”
Your EV warranty is not affected by who installs your charger (as long as installation meets electrical code). However:
- Charger manufacturer warranties require proper installation
- Poor installation can damage your charger (not covered by warranty)
- Incorrect configuration won’t void warranties but wastes money
Take Action: Get South Africa’s Best EV Charging Installation
Get your free ChargePoint SA assessment – We’ll analyze your property, solar system (if applicable), and show you exactly how much you’ll save.
Nationwide service: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, and expanding across South Africa.
Why South African EV Owners Choose ChargePoint SA
- ✅ South Africa’s only dedicated EV charging specialist
- ✅ Nationwide service coverage
- ✅ Solar integration experts – maximize free charging
- ✅ All municipalities’ tariff optimization
- ✅ Load shedding management
- ✅ All EV brands supported – BYD, GWM, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, etc.
- ✅ Complete smart configuration – every feature set up
- ✅ 24/7 technical support
- ✅ Remote troubleshooting
- ✅ Body corporate expertise
- ✅ R15,000-R30,000+ saved over 5 years
See how much you’ll save in your specific city with your driving patterns. Use our EV Cost Calculator.
Conclusion: South Africa’s EV Charging Installation Reality
After researching installers in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth, the picture is clear:
✅ General electrical contractors exist in every city
✅ They can install circuits and mount chargers
❌ None specialize in EV charging optimization
❌ Smart configuration expertise is extremely rare
❌ Solar integration knowledge is virtually non-existent
The result: Most South African EV owners are leaving R15,000-R30,000+ on the table over their vehicle’s lifetime by not getting proper EV charging optimization.
ChargePoint SA is currently South Africa’s only nationwide EV charging specialist offering:
- Complete smart charger configuration
- Expert solar integration (critical for Cape Town owners)
- Municipal tariff optimization (essential for Joburg’s high rates)
- Load shedding management (vital for all cities)
- Ongoing technical support
Yes, their installation costs R4,000-R8,000 more upfront. But over 5 years, you save R15,000-R31,000 through proper optimization. That’s a 3x-4x return on the premium.
Your EV is a R500,000+ investment in cleaner, cheaper transport. Don’t compromise on the charging infrastructure that makes it work.
Contact ChargePoint SA – Free assessment, expert installation, maximum savings, nationwide support.
Serving all major cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, and expanding.
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