Charging Ahead on NEV Infrastructure at Enlit Africa
As the electric revolution surges forward, cities across the globe are shifting gears to keep up with the growing fleet of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). At the heart of this transformation is one vital component: charging infrastructure. And come 21 May 2025, the spotlight will shine brightly on Cape Town as it hosts a high-level breakfast session designed to galvanise city-led action on this front.
Set against the buzzing backdrop of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), this exclusive, invitation-only session titled “City Strategies for Scaling Charging Infrastructure for New Energy Vehicles” promises to be a cornerstone event of Enlit Africa. Organised by the VUKA Group in partnership with Smarter Mobility Africa, the session draws in a handpicked cohort of just 30 key urban stakeholders from municipalities and provinces across the world.
Cape Town and C40 Cities Step Up
Cape Town isn’t just playing host – it’s also taking centre stage. As a city that’s already making waves in NEV adoption and clean transport policy, Cape Town will share its blueprint for scaling up infrastructure in the face of complex energy challenges. This will be bolstered by expert insights from C40 Cities and the ground-breaking ZEBRA Project.
Anazi Piper, Mobility Content & Stakeholder Manager at VUKA Group, summed up the urgency of the moment: “With NEV adoption accelerating globally, cities need practical strategies to rapidly scale charging infrastructure while addressing grid capacity challenges. This breakfast session creates a critical platform for knowledge exchange among urban mobility leaders working at the forefront of this transition.”
The City of Cape Town will present its progress on smart grid development, multi-sector partnerships, and how it’s tackling the growing demand for electrified transport. For attendees, this is a rare opportunity to learn first-hand from a city that’s doing more than talking – it’s taking action.
Spotlight on the ZEBRA Project and C40 Cities
Global context will be front and centre, thanks to key contributions from C40 Cities – a network of nearly 100 world-leading cities united in action on climate change – and the ZEBRA Project (Zero Emission Bus Rapid-deployment Accelerator). This initiative, focused on expanding electric bus fleets across Latin America and Africa, offers valuable lessons on deployment, financing models, and cross-sector coordination.
Through their experience, participants will gain:
- A deeper understanding of how to align city-level infrastructure planning with national energy strategies
- Insight into funding mechanisms and public-private partnerships driving NEV rollouts
- A look at the interplay between transport electrification and renewable energy integration
Together, these examples offer a practical roadmap for other cities looking to emulate such success.
Addressing Grid Capacity and Energy Challenges
No discussion on NEV infrastructure would be complete without tackling the elephant in the room: grid capacity. As cities push for wider adoption, the energy demands tied to widespread NEV charging have exposed pressure points in outdated or under-resourced grids. This session aims to demystify those hurdles.
With speakers diving into smart charging, peak-shaving strategies, and distributed energy resources, attendees can expect to walk away with actionable insights. The focus will also extend to regulatory frameworks and permitting processes – both areas that often act as bottlenecks in NEV deployment.
More than just a technical exchange, the dialogue will explore how cities can foster a mindset shift among policymakers and planners. After all, it’s not only about plugging in more chargers – it’s about redesigning entire urban ecosystems for sustainability.
Why Breakfast, Why Now?
There’s something about a well-timed breakfast that encourages candid conversation. Free from the rush of the main conference floor, this morning session creates space for genuine networking and peer exchange. With just 30 seats at the table, it promises a rare degree of intimacy and focus.
The limited guest list includes:
- Senior municipal officials
- Transport policy experts
- Infrastructure planners
- Representatives from utilities and private mobility firms
This tight-knit circle enables frank discussion of hurdles and breakthroughs alike, setting the stage for collaboration beyond the event itself.
Part of a Bigger Picture
The breakfast event isn’t operating in isolation. It forms part of a larger ecosystem of initiatives taking place under the Enlit Africa umbrella, alongside Smarter Mobility Africa (SMA) and Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES). These platforms collectively aim to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition and amplify the continent’s voice in global climate dialogues.
For cities, it’s a chance to plug into broader energy policy trends and understand where NEVs sit in the bigger puzzle. Mobility, after all, doesn’t exist in a vacuum – it’s intimately tied to how energy is generated, distributed, and consumed.
The Global Push for NEV Readiness
Globally, cities are racing to futureproof their infrastructure. From Oslo’s fully electric public transport fleet to Shenzhen’s sprawling network of EV buses and taxis, examples abound. But while the playbook is growing thicker, many African cities are still flipping through the opening chapters.
That’s why sessions like this one are so important. They offer cities not just a seat at the table, but a voice in the conversation.
“Cities can no longer afford to treat EV charging as an afterthought,” said one C40 Cities representative. “It has to be embedded into the very DNA of how urban spaces are planned and operated.”
With the right tools and insights, even cities just beginning their electrification journeys can leapfrog traditional challenges and embrace more resilient, future-ready solutions.
Charging Towards Change
There’s no shortage of ambition when it comes to NEV infrastructure. But ambition alone won’t get the job done. Events like Enlit Africa’s breakfast session are essential for translating high-level vision into practical action. From sharing on-the-ground lessons to fostering cross-border collaboration, the power of convening like-minded leaders cannot be overstated.
By investing in dialogue, connection, and shared knowledge, cities stand a far greater chance of realising their electrification goals. The road to a clean, connected urban future is being paved one charge point at a time – and it all starts with the right conversation over breakfast.
