Battery myths, charging fears and policy hurdles… Winstone Jordaan tackles them all in this powerful conversation about what’s really holding South Africa back from a cleaner, smarter future.
South Africa (15 October 2025) – The conversation around electric vehicles in South Africa isn’t just about cars… it’s about change.
On this week’s “Good Things with Brent Lindeque”, I got to sit down with Winstone Jordaan, the CEO and founder of GridCars, to unpack how electric vehicles could transform the way we move, save money and protect our planet.
For years, South Africa has watched the global electric vehicle revolution from the sidelines. But as Winstone explains, it’s not because South Africans don’t want EVs, it’s because our policies make it harder for them to get here.
“We’re essentially penalising clean technology while rewarding pollution,” he says, pointing to the fact that import duties for EVs sit at 25%, compared to 18% for petrol cars. It’s a 7% difference that’s costing both consumers and the environment.
The good news is that the economics are changing fast. Volkswagen’s global CEO, Thomas Schäfer, recently said it’s now realistic to expect equal profitability between electric and petrol cars over their lifetimes, meaning price parity is no longer a distant dream.
“If we can just fix the policy environment,” Winstone adds, “an electric VW Polo could cost the same as a petrol one and save you half your fuel bill.”
One of the biggest misconceptions about EVs is that we don’t have enough charging stations. But according to Winstone, that’s not the full picture.
“Most charging happens at home, overnight,” he explains. “And with solar power becoming more common, South Africans can charge their cars cleanly and cheaply.”
Public charging networks are also expanding along major routes, while Eskom’s improved reliability is helping shift public perception.
“We’re not where we need to be yet,” Winstone admits, “but the momentum is there.”
Watch the full conversation with Winstone below… and join the movement towards a cleaner, smarter, and more affordable South Africa.
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