February 2025 Newsletter
Dear HVTT Forum subscriber
This month’s newsletter focuses on efforts to accelerate the transition to battery electric trucks on the African continent. My thanks to HVTT Forum Board member Abdool (AK) Kamdar (Manager: Decarbonisation and Drive to Zero, KDG Logistics, Durban), for providing the material.
Last week, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and C40 Cities convened the Africa Electric Bus Workshop in Durban, South Africa. While the primary focus was on public transport electrification, AK was offered an electric truck session, which he had the privilege of co-chairing with Rudi Kriel of Better Rides. The session, entitled “eTrucks in Africa – Accelerating the Transition”, brought together key stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the electrification of road freight across the continent.
A striking revelation from the discussion was that mass and dimensional regulatory allowances for electric trucks remain largely absent from the policy discourse of these organisations/countries. While passenger transport electrification is gaining traction, Africa is behind the curve in enabling regulations and non-financial incentives that would facilitate the transition for commercial freight operators. Without these frameworks, the uptake of electric trucks will remain constrained, particularly given the higher upfront costs and additional mass/length challenges associated with battery-electric trucks.
One of the key takeaways from the session was the urgent need for harmonised regulatory approaches to support the deployment of e-trucks. Governments across Africa should consider incentivising the use of electric freight vehicles through exemptions, mass tolerance allowances, dedicated charging infrastructure policies, and streamlined import regulations. These measures are critical for making electric trucks operationally and commercially viable as well as accelerating their adoption at scale.
In this regard, AK would like to appeal to HVTT members: If anyone has a policy paper, advisory note, or any research insights on regulatory best practices for electric trucks, please could you E-mail such material to abdool.kamdar@smartfreightcentre.org. He would greatly appreciate the opportunity to circulate such materials to African C40 member states. The goal is to help shape a more coordinated policy framework that enables e-truck adoption across Africa. Let’s work together to drive regulatory progress and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable freight sector on the African continent.
Weatherwise, there are signs that summer is almost over, but we will no doubt still have days with +30°C temperatures in March. During the past few weeks, sunrise has become noticeably later. There has been good rain in most parts of the country, including flooding in some areas. Minimum and maximum temperatures have generally been 15 and 30°C. Cooler weather (by SA standards) is expected during March.
All the best and drive safe
Paul Nordengen
HVTT Vice-President: Africa
