Ride-hailing platform Uber just rolled out its first EV fleet in Johannesburg, starting with 70 cars and targeting 350 by the end of January 2026. The fleets are all Henrey Minicar four-seaters imported from China and supplied through Valternative Energy, an e-mobility startup.
Here’s how it’ll work: EVs change the economics for drivers. Instead of struggling to buy a vehicle, drivers will be able to rent an EV, plug into Valternative’s charging ecosystem, and eliminate the cash drain from daily fuel spend. In this new EV push, drivers will be paid weekly lump sums with zero weekly fuel interference, making their earnings more predictable and reducing the stress of volatile pump prices.
Not an open field: In 2021, Bolt announced plans to roll out electric vehicles in South Africa, following the introduction of e-bike food delivery services in the country. Local startups like EcoRide Africa are also pushing cleaner mobility in South Africa’s ride-hailing sector.
Zoom out: Operating an EV ride-hailing service in South Africa comes with real constraints, as there exists limited public charging infrastructure. Uber’s partnership model, which entails outsourcing vehicle ownership, charging, and maintenance to Valternative, is a turnaround. For now, this structure enables Uber to enter the EV race without spending a lot of money on infrastructure.
