{"id":800122,"date":"2024-11-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=800122"},"modified":"2024-11-18T17:11:32","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T15:11:32","slug":"r9-4-billion-boost-for-electric-vehicles-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/800122\/r9-4-billion-boost-for-electric-vehicles-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"R9.4 billion boost for electric vehicles in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the electric vehicle (EV) market slowly but surely begins to take shape in South Africa, Cape-based company Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE)&nbsp;has pledged R9.4 billion for the development of off-grid renewably powered EV charging infrastructure across KwaZulu-Natal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was revealed at the recent KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference, where a memorandum of understanding between CHARGE and the&nbsp;provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) in support of this project was also signed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rollout will include a truck charging and battery swapping route on the major freight N3 highway between Durban and Johannesburg as well as the development of 17 solar-powered electric passenger vehicle charging stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The municipalities where the charging stations will be located are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Alfred Duma Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>uMuziwabantu Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Umkhanyakude District Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Okhahlamba Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abaqulusi Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greater Kokstad Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>uMngeni Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mkhambathini Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Umuziwanbantu Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greater Kokstad Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>uPhongolo Local Municipality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UMlalazi Local Municipality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Broadly, the MOU outlines that the EDTEA has made a commitment to creating a conducive environment for the rollout of off-grid EV charging stations in KwaZulu-Natal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In particular, it includes the development of the first off-grid, ultra-fast electric truck charging and battery swapping stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The partnership with EDTEA aims to develop a network of off-grid EV charging stations across KwaZulu-Natal&#8217;s agricultural regions, where farmers can benefit by receiving up to 5% of the revenue generated from charging stations on their land, along with access to surplus electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CHARGE said that these charging stations form part of the 120 renewable EV charging facilities that it is developing across the country, spaced at 150km intervals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An additional 120 electric truck charging stations will also be developed on major highways across South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-businesstech wp-block-embed-businesstech\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"7wQjMpxZKz\"><a href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/749552\/massive-r1-billion-boost-for-electric-vehicles-in-south-africa\/\">Massive R1 billion boost for electric vehicles in South Africa<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Massive R1 billion boost for electric vehicles in South Africa&#8221; &#8212; BusinessTech\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/749552\/massive-r1-billion-boost-for-electric-vehicles-in-south-africa\/embed\/#?secret=8FWHgYqvAH#?secret=7wQjMpxZKz\" data-secret=\"7wQjMpxZKz\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The EDTEA and the Trade and Investment Agency of KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) has said that they will act as a \u201cone-stop shop\u201d for the development of the CHARGE network in the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will include a focus on reducing the regulatory red tape currently hampering the approval processes for the building of the charging stations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, the EDTEA and TIKZN will play a role in identifying and advising on additional future electric passenger vehicle charging sites as well as locations for the development of off-grid electric truck charging sites across the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/charge.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CHARGE_PHOTO_TWO.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CHARGE Executive Chairman Joubert Roux signing the pledge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are grateful to the KwaZulu-Natal Government for their support and belief in our project,\u201d said CHARGE executive chairman Joubert Roux. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis landmark agreement marks a significant step forward in KwaZulu-Natal\u2019s transition to sustainable energy and transportation, preparing the province for the shift to EVs in South Africa,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CHARGE\u2019s off-grid charging stations will operate uninterrupted in the event of grid power interuptions and &#8220;will provide a clean, zero-emission alternative to charging from Eskom\u2019s primarily dirty coal-powered grid,&#8221; said the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to research commissioned by CHARGE, an EV charged from Eskom\u2019s national power grid indirectly emits 5.8 tonnes of CO2 per year. By comparison, an average petrol-powered car emits 4.4 tonnes of CO2 per year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This highlights that simply swapping petrol cars for grid-powered EVs won\u2019t help reduce emissions,&#8221; said CHARGE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CHARGE_PHOTO_ONE-1024x683-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CHARGE_PHOTO_ONE-1024x683-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-800137\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CHARGE_PHOTO_ONE-1024x683-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CHARGE_PHOTO_ONE-1024x683-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CHARGE_PHOTO_ONE-1024x683-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Left to right: CHARGE Exec Chairman Joubert Roux; MEC EDTEA Rev Musa Zondi; CHARGE Head of Corporate Affairs, Government Relations &amp; Strategic Communication Larissa Venter; EDTEA HOD Nhlakanipho Nkontwana; TIKZN Board Chairperson Khanyisani Shandu; TIKZN CEO Sihle Ngcamu.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>MEC Musa Zondi said that \u201cthe launch of CHARGE\u2019s green charging stations marks a transformative step in our journey towards a carbon-neutral economy.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The MOU underscores our commitment to not only reducing our carbon footprint but also creating new economic opportunities and enhancing energy resilience in our communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We hope that KwaZulu-Natal can set a bold example for other provinces on how to achieve sustainable growth that benefits both our citizens and the planet,\u201d added Zondi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This pledge comes on the back of numerous hefty solar EV charging investments made by the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, in October 2024 CHARGE announced a R11.4 billion investment in the rollout of charging stations in the Eastern Cape, starting in the first quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/798995\/this-is-whats-stopping-an-electric-vehicle-boom-in-south-africa\/\">This is what\u2019s stopping an electric vehicle boom in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zero Carbon Charge has pledged R9.4 billion for the development of off-grid renewably powered EV charging infrastructure across KwaZulu-Natal. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":800138,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11119],"tags":[21030,19828,21031,21029],"class_list":["post-800122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motoring","tag-charge","tag-electric-vehicle","tag-zero-carbon-charge-charge","tag-zero-charge-carbon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=800122"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":800140,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800122\/revisions\/800140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/800138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=800122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=800122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=800122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}