- Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE), in partnership with the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC), together with the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, broke ground on the province’s first off-grid, ultra-fast, green electric vehicle charging network.
The network in the Eastern Cape will consist of 29 sites, 18 of which will be dedicated to electric passenger and light commercial vehicles, while 11 will be for off-grid electric truck charging stations.
Zero Carbon Charge will be investing a total of R11.4 billion in the rollout of the electric vehicle charging stations in the Eastern Cape. This forms part of its broader project of building a national network of 120 off-grid electric passenger and light commercial vehicle charging stations and 120 electric truck charging stations.
The development of the 11 sites for solar-powered electric truck charging stations will be completed on a route-by-route basis, similar to the launch of the N3 Electric Highway planned between Johannesburg and Durban. Crucially, both electric passenger and light commercial vehicle and electric truck charging sites will be completely independent of Eskom’s predominantly coal-powered grid, which means they will be green and completely loadshedding-proof.
It is envisaged that construction of the charging station at Wagon Wheels Farm Stall on the N6 will start in the first quarter of 2025. It will be one of 5 other Zero Carbon Charge charging stations in the Eastern Cape that will be rolled out simultaneously.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the development of the 29 charging sites will create a positive economic impact in local communities. This includes the creation of over 3 260 employment opportunities. Landowners on whose land the charging stations will be built will earn 5% of the revenue generated from electric passenger vehicles and trucks charging at these facilities, while 1% of the total revenue will be reinvested in local socio-economic development initiatives.
The sites of the 29 off-grid electric vehicle charging stations will be located along the N10, N6, R56, N9 and N2.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
