The Johannesburg-Durban N3 corridor is preparing for the electric revolution.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging company Zero Carbon Charge has launched a pair of off-grid solar-powered EV charging stations along the strategic route.

The Charge N3 Roadside, at the Reitz interchange in the Free State, and the Charge 3 Tugela, at the Colenso-Winterton Interchange in KwaZulu-Natal, officially opened in May, Engineering News reports.

‘By building off-grid EV charging infrastructure along key transport corridors like the N3, we are reducing dependence on volatile fuel prices while creating greater energy and transport cost stability over the long term,’ said Charge co-founder and chair Joubert Roux.

The Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) is supporting Charge’s roll-out through a ZAR100 million investment.

Charge will now concentrate its roll-out on the critical N1 corridor and will later add 60 more sites to supplement the national network.

Charge reports that its pilot site, Charge N12 Wolmaransstad in the North West province, has achieved 99% uptime since its launch two years ago.

The new stations can each charge up to eight EVs simultaneously, with three direct current (dc) chargers with six dispensers, and two alternating current (ac) chargers with one dispenser each, operating entirely off-grid using solar-powered microgrids and battery storage. A typical EV can charge from 20% to 80% within half an hour, depending on vehicle size and battery configuration.

Payment is made through  the Charge mobile app.

2 June 2026
Image: Unsplash