Zero Carbon Charge (Charge) has commenced construction on two pioneering, off-grid, solar-powered ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the critical N3 corridor connecting Johannesburg and Durban. This initiative marks a significant step in developing South Africa’s electric mobility infrastructure, positioning the country for a cleaner, more resilient transport future.
The first of the two sites, Charge N3 Roadside, is strategically located in the Free State, approximately 180km from Johannesburg. The second site, Charge N3 Tugela in KwaZulu-Natal, lies roughly 180km further along the route and 200km from Durban. These stations are notable for being the first fully off-grid, solar-powered ultra-fast chargers on the N3 and form the initial phase of Charge’s ambitious national rollout of 120 off-grid EV charging stations across South Africa. The rollout has been significantly bolstered by an equity investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), signaling strong institutional confidence in the project’s vision.
Joubert Roux, Charge executive chairman and founder, emphasized the project’s transformative potential, stating, “These first N3 stations mark the start of a national transformation, providing reliable, renewable, and accessible EV charging.” The sod-turning ceremonies held at both sites underscored the project’s local economic and environmental impact. KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Detea), Reverend Zondi, highlighted the synergy between green energy and mobility, noting that the project will “create new economic opportunities” and that the N3 stations “position the province for the future economy.” Similarly, Free State MEC Ketso Makume pointed to the local benefits, stressing that decarbonising transport along the N3 supports a cleaner economy, creating essential construction and technical jobs and strengthening the province’s emerging clean-energy sector.
With construction now underway at both locations, completion is anticipated in 2026. Once operational, the Charge N3 Roadside and Charge N3 Tugela stations will establish a crucial renewable-energy charging route between two of South Africa’s largest economic hubs, significantly advancing the country’s electric mobility and sustainable infrastructure goals.