South Africa’s CHARGE upgrades its off-grid EV charging network

Three months after launching its off-grid, solar-powered EV charging network on South Africa’s N3 highway corridor, Zero Carbon Charge (aka CHARGE) has confirmed plans to double charging capacity at both the company’s CHARGE hubs in response to growing demand.

CHARGE generates solar energy on-site, delivering off-grid charging for both passenger and commercial EVs in South Africa.

The upgrade will increase total charging capacity at each hub from 360 kW to 720 kW. Solar capacity at each site will grow from 280 kWp to 470 kWp, while battery storage will increase from 645 kWh to 1.4 MWh.

Load management automatically allocates available power among vehicles.  When sufficient capacity is available, the system can direct up to 600 kW to a single connector. The upgrade will also future-proof the network for the next generation of 800-volt vehicles entering the market and lay the groundwork for CHARGE’s move towards megawatt-level charging.

Combined, the two upgraded CHARGE Hubs will have the potential to generate approximately 1.6 GWh of renewable energy annually.

“When we launched these hubs in May, we built them to accommodate today’s vehicles while leaving room to grow,” said Joubert Roux, CHARGE co-founder and Chair. “Within three months, demand from customers driving both passenger and commercial vehicles has made it clear that we need to bring that growth forward. This expansion also reflects what is happening in South Africa’s EV market. The latest NAAMSA figures show electrified vehicles now account for 6% of new light vehicle sales.”

“These sites will save 800 000 litres of fuel directly, most of it imported. That is the advantage of off-grid, renewable-powered infrastructure,” Roux added.

The company calls the latest upgrade a boost for CHARGE’s commercial freight partners on the N3 corridor.

“High-speed, green charging capacity is what transforms electric freight from a pilot project into a competitive edge,” said Michael Maas, CEO and Co-founder, Zimi. “This N3 upgrade ensures our clients’ electric trucks and vehicles stay fully charged and on schedule, proving that zero-emission transport on South Africa’s busiest freight route is now a reality.”

“The N3 has shown us what happens when the infrastructure is ready before the demand fully arrives,” says Roux. “We expect exactly the same story to play out on the N1 – and we’re already planning for it.”

Source: CHARGE

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