First off-grid electric vehicle charging station launches in South Africa

CHARGE has officially opened its first off-grid, ultra-fast, green electric vehicle (EV) charging station to the public in Wolmaransstad in the North West province.

On 28 November 2024, CHARGE (formerly Zero Carbon Charge) launched the first renewable energy-powered EV charging station in South Africa.

It relies almost entirely on solar and battery power.

This will form part of the country’s first national network of 120 solar-powered charging facilities that CHARGE will be rolling out on major highways at 150km intervals over the coming year.

“We are thrilled to be officially opening our first off-grid charging station, which marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s transition to EVs and a carbon-free future,” said Joubert Roux, Executive Chairman of CHARGE.

“This has been a three-year journey, highlighting our commitment to making our off-grid network a reality as we believe it will benefit South Africans in multiple ways,” he added.

The Wolmaransstad off-grid EV station offers six DC fast chargers (25-minute charge) and two AC chargers with a farm stall.

Commenting on the event, Deputy Minister of Electricity Samantha Graham-Maré said that “we are actively driving renewable energy investments in South Africa, and I am truly inspired to see the determination and passion that the CHARGE team has displayed in driving this incredible development.”

“The project is also aligned with the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan, which will be launched early next year.

“The plan’s focus is on renewables driving local manufacturing, which will support projects such as CHARGE’s where off-grid EV charging stations will be developed at scale,” said Graham-Maré.

“We are grateful for the immense support shown by the North West Provincial Government and the Maquassi Hills Municipality [as] they were the first government entities in the country to grant approval for the construction of our off-grid charging stations”, said Roux.

Other provinces are following suit with MOUs recently signed with the provincial governments of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State,  Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape.

The Wolmaransstad charging facility, along with the entire network of 120 charging stations, will create an income stream for landowners on which these facilities are built. 

Landowners will earn 5% of the revenue generated from vehicles charging on their land.

Roux said that the company believes that the rollout of the off-grid charging stations across the country will serve as a catalyst for EV migration in South Africa.

“CHARGE’s own research shows that an EV charged from Eskom’s predominantly coal-fired power grid indirectly emits 5.8 tonnes of CO2 per year,” said Roux.

“In comparison, an average petrol-powered car emits 4.4 tonnes of CO2 per year,” he added.

This has been done with CHARGE’s Chinese technology partners, Greencore Energy Solutions and Magic Power, who have provided the charging hardware for the Wolmaransstad charging station,

They will also be supplying the hardware for the other charging stations we will be rolling out across the country.

“As we plan the rollout of more EV charging stations across the country, we will continue to work closely with government and key partners to help South Africa meet its carbon emissions reduction targets,” said Roux.

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