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Capital Equipment News’ Juanita Pienaar sat down with Avinash Singh, Sales & Marketing Director – EV & Hydrogen Trucks, South Africa Business Unit, SANY Group, to discuss the company’s bold entrance into the African electric heavy truck market and how battery-swapping technology could redefine logistics across the continent.

Power Shift SANY Drives Electric Revolution in African Freight

A global giant enters the African arena

SANY Heavy Truck Industry Co. Ltd, the world’s leading manufacturer of electric heavy trucks, is charting new territory. With more than 35,000 electric trucks operating globally, the company is now turning its focus to Africa, starting with South Africa.

“South Africa is one of Africa’s most industrialised and forward-thinking economies,” says Avinash Singh. “Its strong mining and logistics sectors, coupled with a growing emphasis on sustainability, made it the natural choice for our African debut.”

Backed by a robust global manufacturing network - including facilities in China, India, Germany, the US, Brazil, and now South Africa - SANY is well-positioned to adapt its electric vehicle (EV) solutions to the continent’s unique demands.

First-of-its-kind battery-swapping truck hits South African roads

SANY is not simply bringing another electric truck to market. It’s bringing innovation that could radically transform operational efficiency - South Africa’s first battery-swapping electric heavy truck.

Traditional electric trucks depend on plug-in charging, often requiring between one and three hours to recharge. “That kind of downtime just doesn’t work for high-utilisation fleets,” Singh explains. “Our battery-swapping solution removes the battery from the vehicle, replaces it in under five minutes using an automated station, and charges the depleted battery separately - often using renewable energy sources.”

This approach enables maximum uptime and introduces new applications like off-peak or solar-powered charging, as well as the potential for grid support via stored energy.

Built for Africa: Addressing infrastructure and operational challenges

In Africa, power supply and grid stability are often inconsistent. SANY’s battery-swapping model offers a compelling workaround when compared to traditional EV charging systems that are now chasing Megawatt charging speeds (MWS) “Battery swapping technology allows for charging batteries at slower speeds thus reducing the load on the grid while also allowing the truck to continue working virtually uninterrupted thanks to a battery swap requiring less than 5 minutes” says Singh.

The system supports a decentralised charging model, reducing strain on public utilities while enabling more self-reliant transport networks. “Our battery-swapping stations can even return power to the grid during peak demand, essentially acting as distributed energy storage,” Singh adds.

Early success and strong local interest

SANY’s first battery-swapping truck is already operational in South Africa, and early results have exceeded expectations. “One of our customers, a leading side-tipping transport operator, is on track to save over R1 million per truck per year in energy and maintenance costs compared to diesel,” says Singh. “That kind of feedback validates both the commercial and environmental case for electric transition.”

While Singh says deployment will be “demand-driven,” there’s clear momentum. The company is currently in talks with fleet operators across mining, logistics, and retail, all eager to reduce costs and carbon emissions while improving uptime.

“Our EV truck is particularly well-suited to short-to-medium-haul, heavy-duty applications,” Singh explains, pointing to interlink side-tipper and tridem semi-trailer operations with gross combination mass (GCM) ratings of up to 120 tonnes.

A dual approach to charging and maximum uptime

SANY offers flexibility in how its electric trucks are charged. “We combine fast plug-in charging for standard operations with battery-swapping where continuous uptime is essential,” says Singh. This dual system allows customers to choose the best model for their needs, maximising operational efficiency and TCO.

Moreover, battery swap stations require minimal maintenance and can be fully automated. SANY is working with local partners to install these systems and train technicians to ensure full localisation of the infrastructure. “We are committed to long-term sustainability through skills development and local job creation,” Singh affirms.

Integrating renewables into the charging ecosystem

One of the more innovative elements of SANY’s approach is its integration with renewable energy. The battery-swapping stations offer a unique benefit of allowing charging of multiple truck batteries while the sun shines to drastically reduce energy costs and further improve the TCO. “We’re collaborating with the SANY Micro Grid team and local renewable energy providers to build a green energy ecosystem that powers trucks, improves energy reliability, and supports local employment,” says Singh.

Driving ESG and economic efficiency

Beyond performance, SANY’s trucks offer strategic value to businesses focused on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. “Our electric solution enables the possibility of achieving zero Scope 1 emissions,” says Singh. Paired with renewables, we offer a fully decarbonised logistics solution - ideal for ESG compliance and investor transparency.”

From a cost perspective, the numbers are just as compelling. Singh explains, “Electric trucks are fundamentally more efficient and as a result can achieve energy cost savings of between 50 to 70% when compared to diesel equivalents. Combined with reduced maintenance, and fewer moving parts, the total cost of ownership is significantly lower in the right applications, even after accounting for charging infrastructure.”

A scalable model for Africa

The vision of battery-swapping as a standard for Africa’s freight industry is bold, but Singh believes it’s achievable. “Battery-swapping is especially well-suited for 24-hour operations like mining,” he says. “Yes, there are challenges - policy, education, infrastructure - but the opportunity is massive. It’s a solution to real African problems: weak grids, long routes, and cost pressure.”

Redefining the road ahead

SANY’s bold entry into South Africa with its innovative battery-swapping electric truck represents more than just a technological leap. It’s a blueprint for how freight transport across Africa can become cleaner, more cost-effective, and more resilient. Backed by global expertise and local collaboration, Singh and his team are building more than just trucks - they’re building the future of African logistics.

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