Free Your Fleet with CaaS: Why Smart Fleet Managers Choose Charging as a Service Over Ownership

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Fleet electrification isn't a matter of "if."

It's a matter of "when" and "how."

Fleet managers across South Africa's logistics sector know the reality: electric vehicle adoption isn't just about buying trucks anymore—it's about solving the charging infrastructure puzzle. You're facing capital expenditure that can reach millions of rands for charging equipment, electrical upgrades, and installation.

Sound familiar? You're not alone. Logistics companies globally are replacing approximately 5-6% of their fleet with EVs annually, and this pace is accelerating. With 42% of global fleets expecting that half or more of their fleet will be electric by 2030, and 87% of fleet owners planning to add EVs over the next five years, the infrastructure investment challenge is becoming universal.

For a typical fleet following this integration rate, you could install up to 4 DC chargers in year one, scaling to 16 chargers by year five (depending on fleet size and the integration rate you follow). With DC chargers ranging from R140 000 for a 40kW unit to R530 000 for a 300kW fast charger, this R563,000 to R8.5 million in charger hardware costs alone—before installation and electrical infrastructure.

But what if there's a way to electrify your fleet without the massive upfront costs and operational headaches?

The Capital Investment Reality

Traditional charging infrastructure ownership requires substantial upfront investment—which works well for fleets with dedicated budgets and technical teams. Consider a fleet adding 5-6 electric vehicles annually—the current global standard of 5-6% integration rate:

Year 1 Investment (6 EVs, 3 DC Chargers Needed):

• Hardware costs: R422,178-R1.59 million (depending on 40kW vs 300kW chargers)

• Electrical upgrades and installation: Often 60-70% of total project cost

• Eskom utility coordination: Grid connection processes that require specialised expertise

• Permitting and site preparation: Regulatory requirements and timeline considerations

  
  

Year-by-Year Scaling Reality:

• Year 1: 6 EVs, 3 DC chargers needed - R422,178-R1.59M hardware + installation

• Year 2: 12 EVs, 6 DC chargers needed - R844,356-R3.18M cumulative investment

• Year 3: 18 EVs, 9 DC chargers needed - R1.27M-R4.77M cumulative investment

• Year 4: 24 EVs, 12 DC chargers needed - R1.69M-R6.36M cumulative investment

• Year 5: 30 EVs, 15 DC chargers needed - R2.11M-R7.95M cumulative investment

Total 5-Year Investment: R2.11M-R7.95M for equipment alone, plus installation and infrastructure costs - up to R13.5M total (including 60-70% installation costs)

Ongoing Operational Requirements:

• Maintenance contracts and technical expertise in a specialised market

• Software updates and technology refresh considerations

• Demand charge management with Eskom's commercial tariff structure (rates at R2.85/kWh)

• Infrastructure monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities

• Staff training and technical knowledge development

For fleets where capital allocation needs to prioritize vehicles or other infrastructure, these investment levels can impact cash flow timing. With diesel at R19.35-R19.41 per litre and petrol at R21.79-R21.87 per litre, there's strong motivation to find the right path to electrification.

What is Charging as a Service (CaaS)

CaaS transforms charging infrastructure from a capital expense into a predictable operating expense. Instead of purchasing, installing, and maintaining charging equipment, you pay a monthly subscription that covers everything your fleet needs to operate efficiently.

Think of it as "charging infrastructure without the infrastructure headaches." You get all the benefits of advanced DC fast charging technology with none of the ownership complexity—perfect for logistics managers who need to focus on delivery schedules, not electrical systems and Eskom challenges.

Core CaaS Components Include:

• Hardware provision: DC charging stations (40kW to 500+kW) owned and warranted by the provider

• Installation and commissioning: Full turnkey deployment with Eskom coordination

• Ongoing maintenance: 24/7 monitoring with guaranteed uptime (typically 98%+)

• Software and energy management: Smart charging optimization and load balancing

• Load-shedding resilience: Strategic charging to work around Eskom outages and demand charge optimization

• Future-proofing: Technology upgrades and compliance updates included

  
  

Your Monthly CaaS Fee: All-Inclusive Tools and Services

Your monthly payment covers comprehensive service for EV charging stations:

Equipment & Warranty

• Rental of EV charging stations

• All wear parts replacements during operation

• 24-48 hour charger replacement warranty for guaranteed uptime

  
  

Regular Maintenance

• Monthly site visits to inspect and clean chargers

• Filter replacements when needed

• Isolation testing for safety compliance

• Manual software updates if not available over-the-air

  
  

Monitoring & Management

• 24/7 network usage and uptime monitoring with proactive response

• Smart charging management optimised for lowest electricity tariffs

• Backend dashboard access for real-time visibility

  
  

Reporting & Support

• Monthly reports on cost savings, improvement opportunities, and CO2 reductions

• 24/7 technical support line

• Vehicle tracking and battery state-of-charge monitoring

• Vehicle efficiency analytics including throttle input data
  

Dashboard Access 

Your backend portal provides complete visibility into:

• EV charging network usage and management settings

• Vehicle tracking and battery status

• Vehicle efficiency metrics and driver behaviour analytics

  
  

The CaaS Advantage: Why Fleet Managers Are Making the Switch

1. Alternative Capital Allocation

CaaS converts the traditional capital investment into manageable monthly payments, allowing capital to be allocated toward additional vehicles, warehouse improvements, or route optimisation technology.

2. Guaranteed Uptime with Professional Management

CaaS providers typically offer service level agreements (SLAs) guaranteeing 98-99% uptime. When delivery schedules depend on overnight charging, reliable infrastructure becomes essential.

Traditional ownership approach: Infrastructure performance depends on internal maintenance capabilities and response times.

CaaS approach: Professional monitoring, predictive maintenance, backup power systems, and rapid response teams ensure consistent charging availability.

3. Operational Focus for Core Business

Most logistics operations focus on core competencies: warehousing, routing, and delivery. Managing DC charging infrastructure requires specialised knowledge in high-voltage electrical systems and energy management. CaaS handles this operational complexity, allowing teams to concentrate on their primary expertise.

4. Dynamic Scalability for Growth

CaaS providers can rapidly scale infrastructure to match your 5-6% annual EV integration rate without over-investing in permanent infrastructure. If, for example, you start with 4 DC chargers for 8 EVs, seamlessly add 2 more chargers each year, reaching 12-14 chargers for 24-28 EVs by year five.

5. Technology Future-Proofing

With CaaS, technology upgrades from 40 to 80, 120, 300 or 500+ kW capacity are the provider's responsibility, ensuring your infrastructure stays current without additional investments per upgraded charger. This includes the benefit of adaptation to new connector standards like MCS for trucks and higher voltage charging when these technologies become the norm, even if it's not directly related to kW output.

Contract Flexibility That Works

• Contract Terms: Choose between 36 or 60-month agreements based on your planning horizon.

• Upgrade Options: Contracts can be upgraded during the term as your fleet grows or requirements change.

• Scalable Service: Start with the right number of charging stations for your initial deployment and expand as your electric fleet grows.

• Technology Evolution: Benefit from ongoing technology improvements throughout your contract term.

The Financial Comparison: CaaS vs. Ownership (120kW DC Charger Example)

For a 100-vehicle logistics fleet electrifying at 5-6% per year, growing from 3 to 14 chargers over 5 years. In this example we will use a 120kW Dual CCS2 DC charger:

Traditional Ownership

• Outright purchase price per charger: Approximately R197,870.85 (ex VAT)

• Annual hardware investment:

  • Year 1 (3 chargers): R593,612.55

  • Year 2 (6 chargers): R1,187,225.10

  • Year 3 (8 chargers): R1,582,966.80

  • Year 4 (11 chargers): R2,176,579.35

  • Year 5 (14 chargers): R2,770,191.90

• Total over 5 years (hardware only): R8,310,575.70
  

CaaS Subscription

CaaS rate per charger per month: 

• Essential Plan: R8,648.43

  • Includes basic charger management, remote monitoring, reporting, charger support, access control and static energy management.

• Full Control Plan: R9,253.11

  • Includes Essential Control plus dynamic energy management with fleet integration.
    

Annual subscription cost (Essential Plan):

• Year 1 (3 chargers): R311,343.48

• Year 2 (6 chargers): R622,686.96

• Year 3 (8 chargers): R830,249.28

• Year 4 (11 chargers): R1,142,325.32

• Year 5 (14 chargers): R1,454,401.36
  

Total over 5 years (Essential Plan):R4,361,006.40

Annual subscription cost (Full Control Plan):

• Year 1 (3 chargers): R333,112.00

• Year 2 (6 chargers): R666,224.00

• Year 3 (8 chargers): R888,298.56

• Year 4 (11 chargers): R1,221,527.32

• Year 5 (14 chargers): R1,554,756.08
  

Total over 5 years (Full Control Plan):R4,663,917.96

Key Takeaways

• CaaS costs significantly less than outright purchase (hardware only) over 5 years:

  • Essential Plan: R4.36 million vs R8.31 million

  • Full Control Plan: R4.66 million vs R8.31 million

• CaaS covers not just hardware, but also maintenance, support, software, and future-proofing—ownership does not.

• For growing fleets, monthly operating costs are predictable, scalable, and remove the burden of capital expenditure.

CaaS offers instant cash-flow efficiency, flexibility, and peace of mind—without the risk or hassle of major upfront or unexpected costs.

Note:

Additional costs to consider may include installation, maintenance, support, and other services specific to your site and operational needs. The CaaS model typically includes these within the monthly fee, while in outright ownership, these will be separate and variable.

Additional CaaS benefits beyond cost comparison:

• Faster deployment timeline

• Reduced internal resource requirements for specialized systems

• Technology evolution coverage against rapid charging advances

• Scalability flexibility matching business growth

• Professional maintenance with guaranteed response times

• Load-shedding resilience and grid management solutions

  
  

Making CaaS Work: Best Practices

1. Start with Route and Energy Analysis

Understanding your actual delivery patterns and energy consumption ensures optimal charging configuration. Map your busiest routes, longest distances, and peak energy demands to determine whether 40kW, 150kW, 300kW or 500kw+ DC chargers best serve your operations.

2. Plan for 5-6% Annual Integration Scaling

Structure contracts to seamlessly add 2 chargers annually as your fleet grows from 4 to 20+ EVs over five years. This rate is suggested but not fixed. Fleet managers can integrate EVs at a rate that works for their particular fleet.

3. Prioritise Load-Shedding Resilience

Ensure your CaaS provider includes backup power systems and smart scheduling to guarantee charging availability regardless of grid instability.

4. Optimise for Commercial Electricity Tariffs

Smart charging can reduce demand charges by 30-45% with Eskom's R2.85/kWh commercial rates—critical for depots with multiple vehicles charging simultaneously.

5. Consider Solar Integration

Leading CaaS providers can integrate solar and battery storage, potentially reducing energy costs by an additional 20-40%.

Your Next steps: Evaluating CaaS

Phase 1: Fleet Assessment (Week 1-2)

• Analyse current fuel costs at R19-22/litre across your delivery routes

• Map existing routes and energy requirements for 5-6% annual EV integration

• Identify charging infrastructure needs based on vehicle dwell times and depot layouts

• Calculate baseline TCO for current diesel/petrol operations

  
  

Phase 2: Provider Evaluation (Week 3-4)

• Request proposals from 2-3 qualified CaaS providers with South African DC charging experience

• Compare service levels, load-shedding resilience, and scaling flexibility

• Validate provider track record with similar fleet operations

• Assess integration capabilities with existing fleet management systems

  
  

Phase 3: Pilot Program (Month 2-6)

• Start with 4 EVs and 2 DC chargers (5-6% of fleet following integration model)

• Start with a POC (Proof of Concept) or a small amount of EVs and DC chargers (5-6% of fleet following integration model)

• Measure actual performance vs. projections for energy consumption and charging efficiency

• Test load-shedding resilience and backup power systems

• Monitor cost savings compared to diesel alternatives at current R19+/litre rates

  
  

The Bottom Line

CaaS provides a low-risk pathway to fleet electrification, eliminating massive capital requirements and operational complexity while addressing South Africa's unique challenges like load-shedding.

The most successful fleet managers get their electric vehicles on the road fastest and most reliably. Following the 5-6% annual integration model, you need sophisticated DC charging solutions that scale systematically over five years.

CaaS lets you focus on efficient delivery operations while charging experts handle high-voltage infrastructure and grid challenges.

Ready to explore CaaS for your fleet?

Contact Aeversa today to discuss how our comprehensive approach combines proven EV technology, smart DC charging solutions from 40kW to 500+kW, and flexible service models designed for South African commercial fleets.

Book a Free Charging Consultation →

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At Aeversa, we provide reliable, cost-effective solutions that scale with your EV integration targets without disrupting daily operations. Contact our team to discuss how CaaS fits your fleet's electric future.

Contact Aeversa:

• Email: sales@aeversa.com

• Phone: (+27) 67 403 0364
  

The electric future of South African logistics starts with smart charging partnerships.

Written By:

John Henry Ford Sales Manager AEVERSA

Author Bio: John is the Sales Manager at Aeversa, where he specialises in fleet electrification and sustainable energy solutions. With a strong background in the EVSE and automotive industries, John has led initiatives that integrate electric vehicle charging infrastructure with renewable energy sources, such as solar power and battery storage. His work focuses on enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs for logistics and distribution fleets. John is passionate about advancing clean transportation technologies and has been instrumental in projects that demonstrate the practical benefits of fleet electrification in South Africa.