Zero Carbon Charge has launched its new subsidiary Zero Carbon Logistics which plans to roll out 120 solar PV electric truck charging sites on SA’s national highways – the first off-grid, 100% green electric truck charging network in the country.
In a response to the growing shift by major truck manufacturers to produce electric truck models, the six initial sites will be built on the major N3 freight route between Durban and Johannesburg. This 120-truck charging network will be in addition to the 120 electric passenger vehicle off-grid charging sites currently being built by the company.
According to co-founder of Zero Carbon Change, Andries Malherbe, the first six sites on the N3 have started the permitting process and the company hopes to be up and running by November 2027.
The charging stations will be completely off-grid with each facility powered by 35 MWp of Solar PV. Each station will deploy ultra-fast charging technology coupled with modular batter packs that are being developed in China, with the goal of being able to charge a truck within 20 minutes. Each station will also offer restrooms, a shop, fast Wi-Fi as well as repair and wash facilities for trucks. There will be secured day and overnight truck parking bays available that will be monitored 24/7 by CCTV cameras linked to local security companies.
“We are extremely excited to be launching our ambitious Zero Carbon Logistic project, which feeds off the foundation created by Zero Carbon Charge that remains on track to have built 120 electric passenger vehicle charging stations across the country by September 2025”, commented Joubert Roux, co-founder of Zero Carbon Charge.