In efforts to scale up the capacities of Tier 2 and Tier 3 automotive suppliers, as well as new-energy vehicle component manufacturers, two entities hosted at Nelson Mandela University, in Gqeberha, have shared their latest initiatives in support of the automotive industry.

Research, engineering innovation and technology support institute eNtsa has expanded its Automotive Localisation Testing (ALT) programme to include Tier 2 and 3 component manufacturers and suppliers in the Eastern Cape, which affords more companies access to product and material testing support. 

The ALT programme supports suppliers involved in localisation of components, through product development testing, expanded routine testing, improved quality control or competitive improvements to manufacturing plants.

eNtsa has provided engineering and testing support to national and international partners in the automotive, manufacturing, petrochemical and power generation industries for more than 20 years.

The institute aims to improve the localisation and competitiveness of local manufacturers, with support from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).

eNtsa’s expanded ALT programme offers 100% subsidies of project costs for Tier 2 and 3 suppliers, and up to 50% subsidies of project costs for Tier 1 suppliers. The subsidised testing and technical support available through the ALT programme includes materials testing; mechanical testing; cyclic performance testing; temperature and humidity testing; corrosion testing; microscopy, such as coating and weld analysis; and three-dimensional scanning and metrology design simulation and analysis.

The institute provides engineering and technology services, as well as training, to qualifying small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at subsidised rates, giving smaller businesses in the lower manufacturing tiers the ability to benefit from world-class support at more affordable rates.

Subsidies are calculated on a project basis and are subject to funding availability.

Between 2022 and 2025, the ALT programme provided training to 270 young people in the Eastern Cape and supported the realisation of R561-million worth of SME localisation contracts.

Meanwhile, another entity based at the Nelson Mandela University, uYilo, which is a national e-mobility programme established by TIA in 2013, is looking at ways to better recycle lithium-ion batteries to recover materials such as rare earths.

uYilo is also conducting research on the second-life-use of batteries in other vehicles such as go-karts and golf carts, and for stationary storage in smart microgrids.

The entity currently offers the country’s only accredited battery testing and material characterisation facility in the Eastern Cape. The facility complements its other services of developing and testing electric vehicle (EV) systems, as well as developing and testing smart grid ecosystems.

The entity’s live testing environment for grids comprises a smart microgrid, EV chargers and containerised battery safety testing facilities. The facility provides valuable information on EV use patterns, energy requirements and other crucial data for stakeholders such as utility providers, municipalities, energy companies, energy storage companies and vehicle manufacturers.

uYilo’s smart microgrid facility integrates solar generation and self-life EV battery packs for energy storage. It also features a network of various types of chargers. Grid and renewable energy are also dynamically controlled to power the EV charging network, which is managed through an energy management system that regulates each charger’s energy source.

As automotive companies become increasingly pressured to venture into new technologies for efficiency and decarbonisation, entities such as eNtsa and uYilo offer support for increased productivity and meeting world-class standards, even for smaller-scale suppliers.