South African electric vehicle charging startup Zimi has secured a $320,000 (R6 million) grant from the Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP Africa Trust Fund) to pilot vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, an ambitious move that could reshape how the country manages energy during power shortages.
The funding, awarded to just 32 initiatives out of more than 530 applications in EEP Africa’s latest round, will allow Zimi to launch real-world testing of how parked electric vehicles can feed electricity back into homes, commercial buildings, and even the national grid.
The startup is focused on addressing one of South Africa’s most pressing issues: grid instability and recurring load shedding.
The pilot will help Zimi explore the technical, commercial, and regulatory challenges of deploying bi-directional charging technology at scale.
For a country where blackouts have become routine, the project signals a potential shift toward decentralized, resilient energy models.
“This grant allows us to test vehicle-to-grid systems in real-world applications and refine the commercial model,” said Zimi’s co-founder, who emphasized that their core strategy is about more than just EV infrastructure, it’s about enabling smarter energy use.
Currently, Zimi partners with logistics companies that are transitioning to electric fleets, a segment that is well-suited for V2G integration.
Fleet vehicles spend long hours parked, making them ideal candidates for feeding power back to the grid when demand spikes.
One of Zimi’s early adopters is Bakers Logistics, a major player exploring clean mobility and efficiency in operations.
“Our model is built around the insight that idle fleet vehicles are essentially untapped battery banks,” the co-founder added.
“If we can harness just a fraction of that stored energy, we can turn fleet depots into micro-energy hubs that support the grid during peak loads or blackouts.”
The grant arrives at a time when bi-directional charging technology is gaining traction globally.
In South Africa, interest surged after Volvo introduced its EX90 EV, a vehicle that supports V2G functionality, signaling a shift in how automakers and energy players are thinking about EVs, not just as transportation, but as distributed energy resources.
Zimi’s vision goes beyond hardware.
The startup is working to create a regulatory and business framework that supports the sustainable rollout of V2G technology.
That includes working with energy regulators, logistics partners, and other stakeholders to build a viable, scalable solution that meets both commercial and environmental goals.
As EV adoption grows and prices fall, Zimi’s V2G approach could become a cornerstone of South Africa’s energy transition.
In a country plagued by unreliable electricity, the ability for vehicles to support the grid could mean fewer disruptions for homes and businesses, and a smarter way to power the future.
