South Africans, electric vehicles (EVs) will now deliver your packages.
๐ฆLetโs unbox, shall we? Special Envoy, a freight management specialist for over 40 years, has launched Xpress, a courier service that uses only EVs to make deliveries. Using a fleet of BYD Dolphins, a Chinese battery electric hatchback, Xpress delivers parcels across Gauteng and surrounding areas, offering next-day delivery for $5.59 if booked before 10 am.
The BYD Dolphin cars used by Xpress are customised; they remove the back seats to make more room for packages. The company is making negotiations to roll out this service in Durban, Cape Town and Nelspruit.
South Africaโs EV space is also gaining traction, driven by a combination of customer preferences, market trends, including the installation of charging stations, and macroeconomic factors, including the governmentโs ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. The EV market is expected to significantly grow revenue, with projections reaching $94.4 million in 2025 and $140.0 million by 2029.
Zoom out: As more African businesses explore smarter logistics channels, Xpressโ EV courier service could be a preview of Africaโs delivery future. With the right infrastructure and policy support, EV-powered dispatch may be the beginning of a broader logistics revolution on the continent. If it works in Gauteng, who says it canโt work in Ghana, Kenya, or Lagos next?
