BMW’s Mini has partnered with Austria’s Red Bull to install a solar-powered car charger in Cape Town. It’s part of their corporate social responsibility designed to encourage green mobility and reduce carbon emissions.
“We are motivated by the potential for creative ways to play our part in protecting the planet. With the first stand-alone public solar charging unit in Cape Town, in collaboration with Red Bull, we are showing our commitment to sustainable energy solutions,” says Mini South Africa’s director, Shaun Willis.
The move follows Mini’s announcement that it is to introduce the Mini Cooper Electric to South Africa in 2030 – an attempt to introduce luxury electric vehicles charged by renewable energy to African markets.
Cape Town, among other cities in South Africa, is being severely affected by load-shedding and rising fuel prices. As a result, the South African government is considering the introduction of electric minibuses to assist public transport. In order to maintain this, the government will have to find ways of decentralising solar power and energy distribution, especially since Eskom is notorious for inconsistency.
Additionally, GoMetro and MiX Telematics are planning to provide electric cabs to Johannesburg this year, as part of a collaborative project. With $696 million raised to complete the project, it will complement the capabilities of the Estonian cab platform, Bolt, in the city.
With the global wave of emission regulations, manufacturers of fossil fuel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles will be tempted to dump remaining stock in African countries. The only way for these countries to avoid the negative repercussions of this is by rapidly distributing more solar power to accommodate growing volumes of electric vehicles.
