As South Africa’s fleet industry accelerates its shift toward electric mobility, MasterDrive will take its place among key voices driving this transition at the upcoming FNB Wesbank EVolution Conference. MasterDrive will deliver a presentation on the critical differences between driving internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) powered fleets.

The CEO of MasterDrive says South Africa’s EV market sold 3 487 units in the first quarter of 2025 and in the first quarter of 2026 sales were already at 4585, according to naamsa data. “As government-led initiatives like tax incentives for local EV manufacturing and expanded charging infrastructure expand, there is growing pressure to electrify fleets. Yet, one crucial factor is often overlooked: driver readiness.

High-voltage systems inherent to EVs

EVs demand more than simply getting behind the wheel and driving as usual. Often it requires drivers to unlearn years of ICE-honed habits. Instant torque delivery changes how a vehicle accelerates from a standstill, while regenerative braking alters braking behaviour and following distances.

There are also safety implications to the near-silent operation of an EV. “This presents a real risk to pedestrians who no longer hear a vehicle approaching. Additionally, with the high-voltage systems inherent to EVs, it becomes clear why untrained drivers face a steeper risk profile behind the wheel of an EV than they might assume.

Driving style has a direct impact on battery

For fleets, the stakes extend beyond safety. Driving style has a direct impact on battery range, charging frequency, tyre wear, brake wear, and overall operating costs. An undertrained driver does not just pose a safety risk but actively erodes the return a fleet should see with EV investment.

MasterDrive’s EV Driver Programme is built specifically to close this gap. “After extensive research and collaboration with our international partners we have launched a bespoke program suited to the South African market.

We have combined best practice standards

While we have combined ‘best practice standards’ from multiple countries that have experienced the journey, the training programme is a uniquely South African driver advancement program, typically suited to our fleets and their unique circumstances.

Adding some friendly competition to the event, the conference will also host a CEO Challenge, pitting company leaders against one another to see who can extract the greatest range from an EV. “It is a hands-on, memorable way of illustrating that how you drive an EV matters just as much as what you drive,” says Herbert.

MasterDrive’s presence at the conference reinforces a simple message: electrifying a fleet is only half the journey. Making sure drivers know how to get the best out of their EVs is what makes that journey sustainable.