Reinventing fleet management one EV at a time

December 9, 2025

Electric delivery vans are becoming an increasingly familiar sight across South Africa. JULIA TEW reports that this transition is being driven not by global giants, but by a home-grown innovator that’s rapidly reshaping what fleet management looks like in South Africa.

Everlectric, a Pretoria-based electric vehicle (EV) pioneer, has become a catalyst in the country’s green logistics transformation. By offering a full-service model that bundles electric commercial vehicles, charging infrastructure and maintenance into one predictable leasing solution, the company removes the biggest barriers to EV adoption for local businesses. “We’re not just offering vehicles,” says Ndia Magadagela, the company’s co-founder and CEO, “we’re offering a smarter, cleaner way to run fleets.”

Integrated fleet electrification

Everlectric’s model tackles the fleet operator’s biggest concerns: upfront costs, operational risks and charging logistics. Instead of selling vehicles outright, the company provides full-maintenance leasing of battery-electric panel vans, supported by smart telematics and access to a managed charging network.

It’s a model designed for logistics, retail and delivery operations – sectors under increasing pressure to meet both cost and carbon-reduction targets. “Everlectric has developed an innovative solution to assist local businesses with their transition to EV fleets, addressing most of the concerns that exist around EV adoption,” says Philippa Lloys Ellis, investment principal at Edge Growth.

Proof of concept: fleets in action

Nothing demonstrates the business case better than a fleet in action. Everlectric’s partnership with Woolworths and DSV Global Transport & Logistics has already resulted in South Africa’s first large-scale rollout of electric delivery vehicles for online food orders. Operating across select routes in Gauteng and Cape Town, nearly half of Woolworths’ online delivery fleet is now electric. “These vehicles have the potential to save over 440 tonnes of tailpipe carbon emissions each year,” says Magadagela.

The company’s latest partnership is pushing the frontier of green logistics even further. In February 2025, Everlectric and Investec Sustainable Solutions announced SA’s first solar-powered, pharma-compliant refrigerated EV fleet in partnership with the Clicks Group and its pharmaceutical wholesaler, United Pharmaceutical Distributors (UPD). The fleet of 42 Maxus eDeliver 3 vans – rolling out in Gauteng and the Western Cape – features an industry-first refrigerated cargo box powered entirely by solar energy.

Locally designed and built from lightweight composite polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the refrigeration units are 50% lighter than conventional boxes, improving efficiency and payload. Each EV offers a 220 to 250-km range, a one-tonne capacity and 6.5m³ of refrigerated space.

Trevor McCoy, managing director of UPD, highlights the broader impact: “What makes this rollout even more exciting is that 27% of the EVs will be owned by black female entrepreneurs, driving both transformation and sustainability in the logistics sector.”

Everlectric’s Magadagela sees the UPD fleet as proof of what is now possible: “We’ve built a pharma-compliant logistics solution that not only decarbonises UPD’s fleet, but is operationally excellent, economical and provides more payload – perfectly suited for local conditions,” she elaborates.

Pioneering EV insurance

As Everlectric’s fleet expands, the company has also broken new ground in commercial EV insurance. King Price Insurance has become SA’s first insurer to underwrite a full commercial fleet of EVs, signalling a major shift in how insurers are adapting to emerging mobility technologies.

“We saw an opportunity to support a groundbreaking entrepreneurial venture that’s already reducing the carbon footprint in the logistics sector,” says Jacques Pienaar, head of commercial underwriting at King Price. “Insuring electric fleets is different, so we built a model around collaboration and data-sharing. That’s what gave us the confidence to move forward.”

“We weren’t just looking for an insurer,” says Paul Plummer, Everlectric’s CCO and co-founder. “We needed someone entrepreneurial, innovative and agile – someone who aligns to the way we think and the speed at which we move. King Price stood out because they’re willing to adapt and grow with us.”

EV fleets face unique risks: theft and hijacking are rare, but accident damage, battery issues and component failures require tailored underwriting. Everlectric’s model gives insurers clear visibility into operational data. A real-time data loop between Everlectric and King Price is helping build one of the first local risk models for commercial EV fleets.

“Normally, global insurers set the standards and South Africa follows,” says Pienaar. “With Everlectric, we’re turning it around, sending locally generated data back into the global market. We’re contributing to the future of EV insurance worldwide.”

A global connection: BYD partnership

In another milestone, Everlectric recently accepted the first 10 BYD electric vehicles directly from BYD founder Wang Chuanfu – head of the world’s largest new-energy vehicle manufacturer. BYD plans to install 200 to 300 charging stations across SA by 2026, strengthening the infrastructure required for nationwide fleet expansion.

“Meeting Chairman Wang was inspiring,” says Magadagela. “It’s not every day you get handed the keys by the founder of BYD himself. These are the first of many vehicles heading into our fleet.”

Challenges on the road ahead

While momentum is strong, challenges remain: high vehicle costs, ongoing power instability and the need for local manufacturing to strengthen supply chains. Everlectric’s progress, however, offers a clear pathway forward: start with commercial fleets, prove reliability and scale from there.

With growing demand and flourishing partnerships, Everlectric is positioning itself and the country firmly within the global EV movement. “Our role is to make the transition practical – to show that electric logistics can be cost-competitive and dependable, even in South African conditions,” says Magadagela.