First 50 qualifying journalists will receive a complimentary GridCars home charger, enabling them to experience electric mobility in the same way as everyday EV drivers.
GridCars has announced the launch of the GridCars Journalist EV Lifestyle Programme, an initiative designed to give South Africa’s motoring and mobility journalists a genuine, long-term experience of living with electric vehicles.
Through the programme, GridCars will provide a complimentary home charging solution to the first 50 qualifying journalists who are actively contributing to the development of South Africa’s electric mobility sector through vehicle reviews, industry reporting and coverage of relevant e-mobility topics.
The objective is simple: journalists reviewing electric vehicles should be able to experience the same charging convenience, services and challenges as the EV drivers they are writing for.
An electric vehicle review should not begin when the vehicle is collected and end when it is returned. The complete EV lifestyle includes charging at home, using public charging infrastructure, creating and managing a charging account, planning longer journeys and understanding how charging fits into everyday life.
Journalists accepted into the programme will receive:
- A complimentary GridCars home charging solution, subject to a standard technical site assessment and installation terms and conditions;
- A personal GridCars charging account;
- Access to GridCars’ public charging services and national charging network;
- A GridCars charging card and the same account registration, activation, charging and payment experience available to ordinary EV drivers;
Once installed, the home charger can be used with compatible electric vehicles supplied to the journalist for reviews by different vehicle manufacturers. This allows the journalist to evaluate each vehicle from the perspective of an EV owner, rather than relying only on temporary or manufacturer-managed charging arrangements.
How journalists qualify
To qualify, a journalist must receive nominations from at least three different automotive OEMs.
Each OEM simply needs to send an email to media@gridcars.net, identifying the journalist by name and confirming that the individual is an “[OEM name]-endorsed journalist.” the email can even include multiple journalist names.
The nomination is not an endorsement of any specific article or opinion. It confirms that the OEM recognises the journalist as someone who actively and credibly covers the automotive or electric mobility sector.
GridCars will verify the nominations and confirm acceptance into the programme. Participation will be limited to the first 50 journalists who meet the qualifying criteria and whose homes are technically suitable for the installation of a charging solution.
The programme is intended for journalists who continue to contribute meaningfully to the EV industry through vehicle reviews, educational content, industry reporting and coverage of important developments in electric mobility.
“We want journalists to experience electric mobility in exactly the same way that EV drivers do,” said Winstone Jordaan, Managing Director of GridCars. “That means arriving home and plugging in, starting the next day with a charged vehicle, using public chargers when travelling and understanding the complete charging journey—not only the vehicle itself.”
“A journalist may review several different electric vehicles during the year, but without convenient home charging, they cannot fully experience how those vehicles are intended to be used. By providing qualifying journalists with their own home charger and GridCars account, we are helping them build a deeper, practical understanding of the EV lifestyle.”
The programme does not require participants to publish favourable coverage of GridCars, any vehicle manufacturer or electric mobility generally. Participating journalists retain full editorial independence and should disclose their participation in the programme where appropriate under their publication’s editorial policies.
OEMs wishing to nominate journalists should send their nominations to media@gridcars.net. A journalist will qualify once GridCars has received nominations from three separate OEMs and the programme’s technical and participation requirements have been met.
About GridCars
GridCars is a South African electric vehicle charging company providing home, commercial, fleet and public charging solutions. GridCars operates charging services across its national public charging network and supports electric vehicle drivers through its charging technology, accounts, charging cards and related mobility services.