The first off-grid electric vehicle station in South Africa has been opened by Charge, formerly known as Zero Carbon Charge. The station is accessible to the general public and is located in Wolmaransstad, North West Province.
The company had this to say: “This is the first renewable energy powered EV charging station in South Africa and 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.”
There are two AC charging stations for plug-in hybrids and six DC fast charging stations for EVs at the Wolmaransstad off-grid EV charging station. A car can be charged using the DC fast chargers in roughly twenty-five minutes.
To help consumers with their charging needs and transactions at its EV charging stations, Charge has created an app that is accessible on both iOS and Android. The 120 charging stations in the network, including the Wolmaransstad charging station, will generate revenue for the landowners who own the facilities. Five percent of the money made from cars charging on their property will go to the landowners, BrandSpur technology, and information news desk reports.
Deputy Minister of Electricity, Samantha Graham-Maré, North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment Conservation, and Tourism Bitsa Lenkopane, and Mayor Mzwandile Feliti of Maquassi Hills Local Municipality attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to launch the station.
Graham-Maré made the following statement in response to the event: “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. It just shows that South Africans can solve any problem through innovation.
“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,” the Deputy Minister added.
Continuing, Joubert Roux, Charge’s Executive Chairman had this to say: “We believe that the rollout of our off-grid charging stations across the country will serve as a crucial catalyst for EV migration in South Africa. Charge’s research shows that an EV charged from Eskom’s predominantly coal-fired power grid indirectly emits 5.8 tonnes of CO2 per year.
“In comparison, an average petrol-powered car emits only 4.4 tonnes of CO2 per year.
“It is clear that the development of a network of off-grid, renewably powered EV charging stations is the only way we will reduce transport emissions in the country,” he added.
