South Africa’s Biggest Electric Vehicle Display Comes To Hermanus

Electric vehicle showcase events are one of the best platforms to raise awareness about the wonderful world of electric mobility. Demo drives, the opportunity to interact with product managers, and seeing all the latest EVs and associated tech all in one central location are some of the major draws for festival-goers. I have had the opportunity to attend several of these types of events in different parts of the world, including in South Africa, Kenya, and the United Kingdom. Some of these events included the Smarter Mobility Expo in South Africa, the Fully Charged Live Show in the United Kingdom (now called “Everything Electric” Show). I have also enjoyed attending the Electrify Expo, largest electric vehicle showcase event in North America.

Next month, on the 9th of August, in South Africa, the Western Cape’s most comprehensive electric vehicle showcase is heading to Hermanus, giving residents a rare opportunity to explore the future of transportation in one location. EVnow.co.za’s “EVs on Display” event will transform Hermanus High School into an electric vehicle theme park on Saturday the 9th of August from 09:00 to 16:00. The event features everything from luxury electric cars to commercial vehicles and scooters — all with free entry for the public. Before we look into some of the EVs people can expect to see at the EVs on Display event, here is some background on EVnow and why they are doing this. 

EVNow is South Africa’s first electric vehicle information platform, founded by Justus Visagie, Gerrit Kruyswijk, and Anneke Ritter. The platform was established to provide comprehensive resources, including news, road tests, myth-busting content, a comparison tool, and a database of all available EVs in South Africa. The platform wants to connect consumers with dealers and offer insights for businesses considering fleet electrification. The EVs on Display series will bring interactive events to schools nationwide, launching at Hermanus High School on August 9, 2025, to educate and engage students and adults about fully electric transportation.

South Africa really needs these kinds of platforms to raise awareness, as EV adoption is still extremely low in the country. Sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEV) only breached the 1,000 units per year mark in South Africa for the first time ever in 2024. Last year, 1,257 BEVs were sold in South Africa, up 35% from 929 units sold in 2023. The Volvo EX30 led the way with 406 units, taking 32.3% of the BEV market. In second place was the BMW iX3 with 221 units, taking 17.6% of the BEV market. In third place was the Volvo XC40 with 103 units, which was 8.2% of the BEV market. In the overall market, 515,712 vehicles were sold in South Africa in 2024. That means BEVs only had a market share of 0.24%. That’s still very low! With only 3,212 BEVs sold since 2018, its clear to see that sales of BEVs have been slow in South Africa compared to similar auto markets around the world. This is due to the limited variety of BEV models in the country, coupled with high import duties and taxes levied on electric vehicles. 

Things are improving. There are more EV models to choose from in South Africa now as automakers add more models in the country. There are also some more affordable models being offered on the market now. EV models on the market now also offer more driving range. The electric vehicle charging network is also growing in South Africa and charge point operators are recording increased utilization at their chargers. The real work is now to get more people in South Africa aware of all this progress, and also to share with them more on the benefits of switching to EVs. 

Back to the EVs on Display event. Visitors will get hands-on access to an impressive lineup, including premium Audi and BMW electric vehicles, innovative BYD models, stylish MINI electrics, and sophisticated Volvo EVs. The display will also feature the fully electric Riddara RD6 double-cab from Geely, alongside powerful Energica superbikes and practical VMoto motorcycles and mopeds. According to Justus Visagie from EVnow.co.za, Tesla fans will find plenty to explore, including the manufacturer’s distinctive ‘winged’ Model X, Tesla Powerwall batteries, and EV charging stations. Other highlights include a converted (classic) VW Beetle, a Roam motorcycle that completed an impressive solar-powered journey from Nairobi to Stellenbosch, and a robotics exhibition from Stellenbosch University.

The event has been curated to offer a wide range of EVs, and therefore, for those interested in urban mobility solutions such as electric kick-scooters, retailers GoElectric and iRoll will demonstrate how EVs are revolutionizing short-distance transport. Commercial vehicle operators can explore electric options from Mercedes-Benz and DFSK, showcasing how businesses are transitioning to cleaner fleet solutions that can save money too. 

Various commercial charging solutions from firms such as ZIMI, as well as solar energy systems from Whale Coast Solar and Renenergy, will also be on display. The organizers say the event will culminate in a special ceremony where Overstrand Executive Mayor Archie Klaas will present a GoElectric NIO electric kick-scooter to the winning student from EVnow’s myth-busting competition, recognizing young South Africans leading the charge toward sustainable transport education.

“This breaks barriers by bringing electric vehicles directly to the community,” says Visagie. “People can touch, explore, and understand these vehicles without any sales pressure — it’s pure education and discovery.”

He believes South Africans deserve access to affordable EVs powered by domestically generated electricity. “At EVnow, we want to get people excited about EVs so they’ll demand an end to the additional 7% import duty on these vehicles,” he explains. “Also, instead of sending billions to oil producers, we should keep that money in South Africa to help our people and economy prosper.”

I think it is really awesome that these events are taking place at centers in the community where students and members of the community in general can get to experience the latest tech in EVs, and it’s great that entry is free. I can imagine that for some of these students and also members of the community such as recent graduates, etc., their first care could be electric, bypassing the ICE age. 

Some EVs in Hermanus, South Africa. Images courtesy of EVNow