Page 48 - Logistics News - September October 2023

GREEN NE W S

Logistics and supply chain have a critical

role to play in the shift to eMobility

WHILE SOUTH Africa’s electricity crisis is cited by progress in removing all the red tape that hampers EV
many as the reason that the country is not ready for adoption. South Africa’s economy will have recovered,
electric vehicles (EVs), Accenture’s Greg Cress contends the GDP will be growing and unemployment dropping in
that load-shedding could be the catalyst for the this scenario.”
decentralisation of the country’s green energy roll-out
and may fuel the shift to eMobility. Cress said that the retail logistics and supply
chain sectors have a critical role to play in the move
Speaking at a conference for supply chain to sustainable mobility. He noted that, globally, many
professionals co-hosted by SAPICS (The Professional logistics companies are transitioning to electric
Body for Supply Chain Management) and SAAFF (South vehicles. These include FedEx, UPS and DHL. Heavy
African Association of Freight Forwarders), Cress said commercial OEMs like Volvo are focusing on EVs, and
that it was critical to put the gas on (without the gas) in Coca-Cola, which is switching to electric trucks, aims
the race to net-zero carbon emissions. He stressed that to have transformed its fleet to 100 percent electric
South Africa needed to focus its EV transition not just vehicles by 2030. In California, Volvo and Shell Recharge
on private cars, but also on trucks, light delivery vehicles have partnered to build an Electrified Charging Corridor
and buses. According to the International Energy Project for medium and heavy-duty EVs.
Agency (IEA), road transport (cars, trucks and buses)
accounts for 28 percent of global CO emissions. Volvo’s first electric truck sold in South Africa
2
was delivered to KDG Logistics earlier this year, while
Cress, who is the Sustainable Energy and eMobility Woolworths is the first South African retailer to embark
lead at Accenture, outlined two possible eMobility on an extensive roll-out of electric panel vans in
scenarios in South Africa’s future. In the ‘Beetle’ partnership with DSV and Everlectric, Cress said.
scenario, the country will have continued on the status
quo path, only investing in manufacturing and exporting He stressed that the diversification and
ICE vehicles, and not transforming facilities to make decentralisation of energy generation are national
and assemble EVs. “If this plays out, South Africa will imperatives for South Africa right now, and that both
become irrelevant on the global stage. Demand for our small-scale and large-scale generation projects have
exports will decline, unemployment will rise and large roles to play. “More EVs will lead to more decentralised
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may exit (and mobile) energy storage. It is also critical to
South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector,” he establish a viable EV battery recycling value chain
asserted. in South Africa,” he noted, and added that the Global
Battery Alliance, which has leading mining companies
He stressed that South Africa needed to pursue the among its members, is leading the way on this front.
‘Charged-up’ scenario, in which the country’s assembly
plants have been transformed for electric vehicles, Sustainability and the shift towards eMobility are
60 percent of which are exported. Expanding on this among the important topics that will be explored at
scenario and the benefits, Cress said: “Consumers the 46 annual SAPICS Conference, which takes place
th
will have transitioned towards green and sustainable in Cape Town from 9-12 June, 2024. This important
technologies and adopted EVs. Cities, OEMs and conference is the leading education, knowledge sharing
independent power producers will have created an and networking gathering for the African supply chain
‘energy alliance’ to offset the dependence on Eskom for community. In 2024, it will be held under the theme
EV charging infrastructure. Understanding the benefits ‘Supply Chain Metamorphosis’ and hosted by SAPICS in
of an EV future, government will have made tremendous association with SAAFF. •

46 SEP T E MB E R/O CT O B E R 2023 www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a