The adoption of Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X) in South Africa will reduce the combined cost of embedded solar generation and driving

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are essential to global decarbonisation roadmaps and are being increasingly adopted in many countries. However, significant techno-economic barriers remain before the adoption of BEVs becomes widespread in the Global South. Issues include higher costs, grid instability due to high electricity demand during peak periods, lack of recharging infrastructure and restrictive driving ranges relative to internal combustion engines. Vehicle-2-Grid (V2G) can play a critical part in load balancing (peak shaving) and reducing costs for BEV owners. In this study, the potential of V2G was explored in more detail, looking at the development of appropriate hardware and software for V2G, the techno-economic assessment of V2G from a user and system perspective, and policy measures to support uptake of electric vehicles. The study shows that households with V2G-enabled BEVs achieve cost parity with households with internal combustion engine vehicles. Systems which connect BEVs to V2G, and supportive V2G metering and tariff policies, would accelerate BEV adoption in emerging markets.

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Publication Details

Journal
South African Journal of Science
Published
2026-01-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2026/23146
Primary Topic
Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure
Type
article
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article

The adoption of Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X) in South Africa will reduce the combined cost of embedded solar generation and driving

David Walwyn
South African Journal of Science
Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure
article

The adoption of Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X) in South Africa will reduce the combined cost of embedded solar generation and driving

David Walwyn
article en

Abstract

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are essential to global decarbonisation roadmaps and are being increasingly adopted in many countries. However, significant techno-economic barriers remain before the adoption of BEVs becomes widespread in the Global South. Issues include higher costs, grid instability due to high electricity demand during peak periods, lack of recharging infrastructure and restrictive driving ranges relative to internal combustion engines. Vehicle-2-Grid (V2G) can play a critical part in load balancing (peak shaving) and reducing costs for BEV owners. In this study, the potential of V2G was explored in more detail, looking at the development of appropriate hardware and software for V2G, the techno-economic assessment of V2G from a user and system perspective, and policy measures to support uptake of electric vehicles. The study shows that households with V2G-enabled BEVs achieve cost parity with households with internal combustion engine vehicles. Systems which connect BEVs to V2G, and supportive V2G metering and tariff policies, would accelerate BEV adoption in emerging markets.

South African Journal of ScienceVol. 122(1/2)
University of Pretoria (ZA)
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure
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The adoption of Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X) in South Africa will reduce the combined cost of embedded solar generation and driving — David Walwyn · South African Journal of Science (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS