Founder Fridays : NHS EV

South Africa’s electric vehicle drivers cannot always count on finding a charger when they need one. Nickie Mashiloane has built a business around bringing charging to them. He is now seeking R2.98 million to expand NHS EV Mobile Charging Service.

Imagine your electric vehicle is running low on power, but the nearest charging station is out of reach. You cannot plug in at home, the next charger is occupied, or your journey has taken you somewhere the charging network barely reaches.

For Nickie Mashiloane, these situations present a business opportunity. A professional driver with previous experience in car sales, he became interested in electric vehicles while working at Volkswagen. His attention soon turned to a practical problem facing EV owners: getting a charge when a conventional charging station is not within reach.

That interest led him to establish NHS EV Mobile Charging Service early this year. He has invested his own money in getting the business underway and is now looking for funding and commercial partnerships to expand its mobile charging operation.

The business is built around a straightforward idea: take electricity to the vehicle instead of requiring the driver to travel to a charging station. The proposed mobile system uses a battery-powered charging unit mounted on a trailer, drawing on a model familiar in the transport and mining industries.

Just as a diesel bowser delivers fuel to machinery at a worksite, a mobile charging unit can bring power directly to an electric vehicle. For customers operating far from established charging infrastructure, that service could help address a practical limitation of electric mobility.

The Charger Comes to You

NHS EV Mobile Charging Service is targeting several potential markets, including motorists who need emergency charging, fleet operators running vehicles over long distances, and mines or remote worksites where conventional charging infrastructure is limited.

Nickie is particularly interested in fleet operators because their vehicles follow schedules and may need regular charging. Electric trucks travelling between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are one market he wants to explore, while mining operations could provide another source of demand.

Recurring fleet work could give the business more predictable revenue than relying solely on emergency call-outs. It could also help Nickie plan where to position the mobile unit and how to manage travel between customers.

Securing that business requires more than identifying a need. NHS EV Mobile must build relationships with customers, establish how frequently they would use the service and determine what they would pay for the convenience. Nickie is approaching potential customers and seeking commercial partnerships, with letters of intent among the forms of evidence that could strengthen funding applications.

These relationships are important because they connect the business's expansion plans to potential revenue. A prospective customer willing to consider the service gives Nickie a clearer basis for estimating demand and explaining to funders how additional investment could support growth.

The R2.98 Million Expansion Plan

Nickie estimates that expanding the mobile charging operation will require approximately R2.98 million.

The proposed investment covers a battery sourced internationally, trailer assembly, a towing vehicle, safety and compliance certification, and a suitable location to recharge the battery between jobs. The funding would therefore support more than the charging equipment itself; it would help provide the transport and operational requirements needed to serve customers.

Nickie has already committed personal funds to establishing the business. He is now seeking external backing to build on that investment and increase the service's reach.

For potential funders, the central question is how the additional capacity will translate into commercial activity. Regular work from fleet operators, mines and other customers could help demonstrate demand, while a clear breakdown of operating costs would show how much revenue the business needs to cover its expenses.

The economics depend partly on the charging system's capacity, how quickly it can serve vehicles and what the company can charge for each visit.

How Much Will Each Charge Earn?

Nickie has described a proposed system with around 270 kWh of battery capacity and two CCS2 charging connectors. He estimates that a compatible vehicle could reach 80% charge in approximately 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the vehicle and its battery.

These specifications relate to the proposed system and should be confirmed before publication. The equipment and trailer must also meet applicable safety and compliance requirements, including those relating to fire suppression.

Nickie estimates a call-out fee of between R200 and R500, in addition to the electricity charge. His calculations suggest that monthly throughput of around 10,000 kWh could help sustain the business and meet its funding obligations.

That figure is a target rather than a confirmed monthly result. Reaching it will depend on how many charging sessions the business completes, how much electricity it delivers and how efficiently it can move between customers.

Travel costs, electricity expenses, equipment maintenance and the time required for each job will all affect profitability. Regular fleet or mining customers could help improve utilisation by providing repeat work, but the company will need actual operating figures to establish whether the proposed pricing can support the service.

The information gathered from those jobs could also provide value beyond charging fees.

Using Data to Guide Expansion

“Without data you are nothing,” Nickie says.

For NHS EV Mobile Charging Service, data is part of planning and managing the business. Information on charging locations, electricity consumption and customer demand gives the company a basis for assessing its operations and identifying where its mobile service is needed.

This information also relates to Nickie’s longer-term plan to establish one or two fixed charging stations over the next three years while continuing to serve remote customers, including mines and worksites, through mobile charging.

Tracking demand across its operations can help the business make more informed decisions about where to focus its services as it expands.

Building Towards the Next Stage

Nickie is building NHS EV Mobile Charging Service alongside his work as a professional driver. Like many entrepreneurs entering a capital-intensive industry, he faces the challenge of securing funding and establishing the industry relationships needed to grow the business. He identifies both as major obstacles for a fully black-owned business.

His plans extend beyond mobile charging. Over the next three years, he aims to establish one or two fixed charging stations while continuing to serve remote customers, including mines and worksites, through mobile units. Fixed stations would serve drivers who can access established locations, while the mobile service would reach vehicles operating farther from charging infrastructure.

Reaching that stage will require additional investment and commercial partnerships. Nickie has already put his own money into getting the business underway and is now seeking R2.98 million to expand the mobile operation.