Valternative disrupts Africa’s EV market with smart battery swapping

By Tarryn-Leigh Solomons

South African startup Valternative is set to reshape the electric vehicle (EV) sector with the launch of its Swap & Go solution — a first-of-its-kind battery-swapping system designed for fast, scalable adoption across the continent. As traditional EV charging infrastructure struggles to meet growing demand, Valternative offers a streamlined alternative that slashes downtime, supports last-mile delivery networks, and builds the foundation for Africa’s clean mobility future.

Founded in 2022 by entrepreneur Mahomed Jeewa, Valternative has rapidly emerged as one of the continent’s most promising players in clean energy mobility. With operations already active in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria, the startup is preparing to scale further – including the rollout of a four-wheeler electric vehicle pilot in October through three signed contracts with Uber. Strategic partnerships with Takealot and other logistics platforms are also accelerating its impact on last-mile delivery services.

At the core of Valternative’s offering is its smart battery swapping station – an innovation that enables EV riders to replace a depleted battery with a fully charged one in mere seconds. This eliminates the long wait times typically associated with EV charging and significantly boosts efficiency, especially for high-demand delivery fleets. It’s a model that has seen widespread success in Asia – and Valternative is customising it for Africa’s unique infrastructure needs.

As South Africa’s e-commerce and on-demand sectors grow, Valternative’s electric motorcycles, battery swap subscriptions, and subscription-based energy services are built to meet the rising demand for reliable, cost-effective and clean mobility. The business model includes electric bike rentals and sales, monthly subscription fees for battery swaps, commission from riders, and in-vehicle advertising – a diversified approach that supports rapid national expansion.

Jeewa, whose two decades of travel across China deeply informed the company’s strategy, saw firsthand how battery swapping transformed urban mobility. “We witnessed how China’s EV ecosystem scaled through battery swapping,” he says. “Now, we’re building the infrastructure to localise that model here in South Africa – and eventually across the continent.”

Since its inception, Valternative has created over 760 jobs, with an ambitious target to reach 3 000 by the end of the year. The long-term vision? Deploy 30 000 two-wheelers and 5 000 electric four-wheelers on South African roads by 2030 – a move that will not only reduce emissions but also stimulate economic growth through green jobs.

Recognising the lack of sufficient public EV infrastructure, Valternative has forged its own path – collaborating with Shell, Sasol, Total, Redefine Properties and other major players to install dedicated swapping stations in key urban locations.

The company is also in talks with pan-African climate investors, with a significant funding deal expected to close soon – a clear indicator of growing interest in Fourth Industrial Revolution infrastructure and sustainable transport solutions.

“This is bigger than electric vehicles,” says Jeewa. “We’re building the backbone for a digitally connected, low-carbon African economy – one battery swap at a time.”