Zimi EV charging targets commercial fleets for growth in South Africa
By Larry Claasen
STELLENBOSCH -based EV charging company Zimi is bypassing the consumer market to focus exclusively on commercial fleets, betting that partnering with logistics companies before building infrastructure will give it an edge in South Africa’s nascent electric vehicle (EV) sector.
Zimi EV charging strategy focuses on fleet-based infrastructure
The company, founded by Michael Maas and Stefan Georgiev, deploys charging stations only where clients operate their vehicles — typically at depots, transit hubs and along high-frequency routes.
“We don’t build speculative public networks,” Maas said. “This strategy ensures maximum operational uptime and high charger reliability, allowing professional fleets to transition to electric with guaranteed power reliability and no wasted capital on ‘ghost’ infrastructure.”
Zimi estimates there are three million commercial vehicles in South Africa that need to transition away from diesel, representing a significant market opportunity.
Zimi sees the commercial sector as the primary growth engine for EVs in South Africa, driven by hard economics and global compliance pressures.
The financial savings from moving to EVs are amplified at scale, making the transition an easy decision for logistics companies. “For a business, the cost savings are a ‘no-brainer.’ When you’re running dozens of vehicles 24/7, those cents saved per kilometer turn into millions of rands over the year,” Maas said.
While the initial purchase price is higher, the long-term operational savings Total Cost of Ownership are substantial and make the business case.
“While an EV might cost more on day one, the Total Cost of Ownership is the real winner. When you remove 40% of the moving parts that usually break in a diesel engine and slash your ‘fuel’ bill by two-thirds, the vehicle pays for itself,” Maas said.
Zimi EV charging delivers cost savings and emissions reduction
Though still a young company, Zimi is starting to have an impact on local businesses. Bakers SA, a logistics firm with more than 1,000 vehicles, has deployed Mercedes-Benz eActros electric trucks using Zimi’s 120kW DC fast-chargers at its Midrand depot. The company reports nearly 70% fuel savings and a 33% reduction in fleet carbon emissions.
“By integrating electric vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz eActros and eSprinter into our fleet, powered by Zimi’s advanced charging technology, we have significantly reduced our environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency,” said Bakers GM Luqmaan Hansa.
The charger is integrated with Zeus, Zimi’s software platform, offering real-time insights into energy consumption, fuel savings, and carbon emissions.
When it came to funding, Zimi has benefited from grants, which helped it de-risk its technology and prove its concepts. “We have successfully leveraged grant funding from organisations like P4G and EEP Africa, which has allowed us to de-risk our ‘always-on’ technology and V2G pilots without the immediate pressure of traditional equity,” Maas said.
Even so, as a capital-intensive startup in an emerging market, securing funding has been a significant challenge, requiring a creative approach beyond traditional venture capital. The South African venture capital environment is risk-averse, creating a difficult funding gap for hardware and energy startups.
“Securing funding for a startup in South Africa, especially in the capital-intensive hardware and energy space, is undeniably a challenge. The local venture landscape often demands more proven stability than international markets, making the ‘early-stage’ gap difficult to bridge.”
