Companies with significant logistical and transport footprints should focus on using electric vehicles (EV) as part of their commitment to ESG, according to Sanitech MD Robert Erasmus.
“If you’re aiming to reduce greenhouse gases, the focus should be on vehicles. That’s the priority, and that’s where our journey began,” he said.
The hygiene and sanitation solutions provider recently announced its acquisition of two EVs to add to its fleet.
While the current demand for electric vehicles is low, Robert highlights two key benefits that will emerge with increased adoption: the positive impact on infrastructure as more urban areas embrace the solution, and the practical aspect of reducing emissions in congested areas.
This, in turn, improves air quality, especially in regions like Johannesburg where congestion and vehicular emissions pose a growing concern for air quality.
“It’s far better to take a proactive approach to change, rather than suddenly having to wake up and transform your fleet at some point. We wanted to make sure we’re not selective in our ESG commitment, which means taking a holistic approach by being early adopters of technology that has the potential for significant environmental impact,” Robert says.
He notes that the 20% premium on vehicle imports is a major hindrance to more widespread adoption.
“At this point in time, we’re not doing it for incentives. What needs to be driven is support from government policies, similar to the incentives seen in European countries,” he says.
“We won’t see cost benefits as we stand right now, but that can change very quickly as fuel prices continue to soar. At this point in time, there’s not a financial benefit, but we need to be prepared for future changes,” he adds.
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