First N3 off-grid EV truck charging stations go live.

 

The official launch of the new CHARGE N3 Roadside at the Reitz Interchange (Exit 107), in the Free State. Source: CHARGE

 

Two off-grid EV charging stations are now operational on the Johannesburg-Durban N3 corridor. The stations, developed by Zero Carbon Charge, are located at the Reitz Interchange in the Free State and the Colenso-Winterton Interchange in KwaZulu-Natal. 

 

Each site can charge up to eight electric vehicles at the same time and operates independently of the national grid using solar-powered microgrids and battery storage. Typical charging performance is about 20% to 80% battery capacity in around 30 minutes, depending on vehicle size and battery configuration, according to CHARGE. Each station has three DC chargers with six dispensers and two AC chargers with one dispenser each.

 

The N3 stations offer 50% more charging capacity than its N12 Wolmaransstad pilot site, which has achieved 99% uptime since launching in November 2024, CHARGE says. 

Payment and charging access are managed through the CHARGE mobile application.

The roll-out forms part of a broader infrastructure programme supported by a R100-million investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa. 

 

CHARGE plans to advance its next major roll-out phase along the N1 corridor, followed by 60 more sites and then further densification to complete a 120-site national network.

Source: South Africa's Freight news by FFW

.