Uber electric car drivers not allowed to charge at home for their own safety — Fleet operator

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Uber electric car drivers not allowed to charge at home for their own safety — Fleet operator

Commercial electric vehicle (EV) fleet operator Valternative says it does not allow drivers on Uber's recently launched EV ride-hailing service to charge at home out of concern for their safety.

Uber Go Electric was launched in South Africa as a new low-cost ride-hailing option in November 2025, initially with 70 vehicles and expanding to 280 by January 2026.

 

[neoprema]

Hmmmm.

I guess the pudding here is, does Valternative have any partnership (commercially) with charging providers? As that would be a major driver in discouraging charging at home. I mean if you can plug in your 4-bar heater, i can't see a car charger setting your house on fire. Also unless contractually they're accepting all insured risk on the vehicle, if something did catch fire its the driver's responsibility?

 

[mypetcow]

All 3 pin AC chargers can be manually set to maximum charge power. There’s nothing wrong to setting it on 2kW max (6-10A) . That’s the same power as a kettle or microwave. So no risk to anyone.

 

[Toxic T]

So I am guessing that public chargers are the new hang out spots for Uber drivers

 

[Hanno Labuschagne]

All 3 pin AC chargers can be manually set to maximum charge power. There’s nothing wrong to setting it on 2kW max (6-10A) . That’s the same power as a kettle or microwave. So no risk to anyone.

Mentioned that in the article as well. Seems silly.

 

[wingnut771]

Valternative told MyBroadband that driver safety was a priority and said many drivers lived in areas where residential electrical infrastructure may not be “suitable or reliable” for EV charging.

That is code for living in a squatter camp with stolen leccy.

 

[MrGray]

This makes no sense to me.

"The maximum AC charging speed of the Henrey MiniCar is the same as the peak power draw of an electric kettle. Therefore, sockets that can handle a kettle should be able to charge the EV."

 

[Athos]

These things are just as annoying as those bolt yellow pieces of shyte.

 

[wingnut771]

This makes no sense to me.

"The maximum AC charging speed of the Henrey MiniCar is the same as the peak power draw of an electric kettle. Therefore, sockets that can handle a kettle should be able to charge the EV."

It has 2kW AC charging. Same as a kettle. Apparently this is too much for our "residential areas".

 

[Hanno Labuschagne]

This makes no sense to me.

"The maximum AC charging speed of the Henrey MiniCar is the same as the peak power draw of an electric kettle. Therefore, sockets that can handle a kettle should be able to charge the EV."

It can charge at up to 2kW on AC...a kettle typically uses 2kW. It just doesn't do so over several hours. However, any legal electricity installation should be able to handle that flow with the proper cabling and sockets.

 

[MoHaG]

I wonder if NERSA approved the rates that the charging operators charge... (or how they reconcile their tariffs with the electricity reseller guidelines otherwise...)

 

[Totempole]

All 3 pin AC chargers can be manually set to maximum charge power. There’s nothing wrong to setting it on 2kW max (6-10A) . That’s the same power as a kettle or microwave. So no risk to anyone.

Unless they're using an unstable illegal electricity connection.

I think the idea here is to protect the cars, not the drivers.

 

[biena]

“To reduce the risk of possible electrical faults or fires, drivers are advised to charge at approved public EV charging stations that meet the required safety standards,” Valternative said.

So advised now means not allowed ?

 

[wingnut771]

So advised now means not allowed ?

Not sure whats stopping them.

 

[biena]

Not sure whats stopping them.

Ethics !

 

[Tantus]

OK, I'm just a blonde techie, but why leave your lights on when you're charging your car's battery? Sort of defeats the purpose?

 

[Lupus]

Ethics !

What is that in pedi?

 

[biena]

What is that in pedi?

boitshwaro bja boitshwaro

 

[biena]

OK, I'm just a blonde techie, but why leave your lights on when you're charging your car's battery? Sort of defeats the purpose?

Its the equivalent to rocking a ICE to release airlocks and get more fuel into the tank.