SOUTH Africa must wean itself off coal if locally produced electric vehicles (EVs) – a key element of the government’s decarbonisation plan – are to be climate friendly, the country head of Volkswagen said on Wednesday.
Wealthy nations have already committed $8.5-billion to help Africa’s most industrialised nation cut its emissions. The South African government is seeking roughly ten times that amount, including R128-billion to fund a transition to EVs.
Introducing EVs onto the domestic market makes little sense, however, while South Africa remains dependent upon fossil fuels for power generation, Martina Biene, Volkswagen South Africa’s managing director, told Reuters.
“The fundamental thing is that finally the source of power can’t be coal in the long-term for us to make EVs a thing which is not only an emission-free vehicle but also helps to save the climate,” she said.
South Africa produces nearly 90% of its total energy supply from
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