The battery normally starts with a useful reserve.
An EV doesn't need to be empty before you plug it in. If you drive 60 km in a day and the vehicle had sufficient charge that morning, a period of load shedding does not suddenly remove its remaining driving range. You recharge when power is available—just as you do with a phone or home backup battery.
For example, a 60 kWh usable battery at 50% charge still holds about 30 kWh. At an illustrative consumption of 18 kWh/100 km, that represents roughly 167 km of driving before allowing for a prudent reserve and changing conditions.
Load shedding interrupts home charging, not the energy already stored in your vehicle. But extended outages, repeated high-mileage trips and unreliable charging access can create real constraints.
How much range can you add while the power is on?
Assumes 18 kWh/100 km and 90% charging efficiency. A socket must be suitable for sustained EV charging; have the installation checked by a qualified electrician. Always respect your car's AC charging limit.
Even if electricity is unavailable for several hours, an evening or morning charging window may replace a normal day's driving. For a high-mileage commuter, a dedicated wallbox or planned daytime charging can make a significant difference.
My practical load-shedding plan
- Know your real daily distance.
Calculate the range you actually need between charging opportunities.
- Keep a sensible reserve.
Set a personal buffer for unexpected trips; don't routinely plan to arrive on zero.
- Charge whenever convenient power is available.
Use available overnight, daytime or workplace charging windows rather than waiting for an empty battery.
- Match your charger to your electricity supply.
Consider a wallbox with adjustable current or load management if appropriate.
- Identify a credible public backup.
Know the connectors, payment method, distance and power-resilience of nearby stations.
What about public chargers during an outage?
Some public charging sites have generator, battery or solar support—but you cannot assume every charger stays live during load shedding. It is essential to check the specific site before travelling.
A real South African example is CHARGE's off-grid solar-and-battery charging network, including its N3 hubs launched in 2026. Other networks may use different backup arrangements by location. Availability, vehicle compatibility and journey distance still matter.
When might an EV not be the best fit?
If you drive several hundred kilometres every day, don't have a safe charging point, and have no dependable public station within realistic remaining range, load shedding can change the economics and convenience substantially. That's precisely the type of situation I'd assess before recommending a switch.
With home solar and batteries, the answer depends on real surplus generation and inverter capacity—not simply whether solar panels are installed.
Further reading & useful resources
These are independent resources for background and verification. Charging availability, prices and product specifications can change.