Three months after launching its off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging network on the N3 corridor, Zero Carbon Charge (Charge) has announced plans to double charging capacity at both its hubs in response to growing demand.

The upgrade will increase total charging capacity at each hub from 360 kW to up to 720 kW, with the available power allocated automatically between vehicles, based on how many are charging and each vehicle’s charging capacity.

Where sufficient capacity is available, the system will be able to direct up to 600 kW to a single connector, allowing more vehicles, including commercial trucks, to charge simultaneously at higher power.

Charge says the upgrade should future-proof the network for the next generation of 800 V vehicles entering the market, and lay the groundwork for the company’s move towards what it calls megawatt-level charging.

“When we launched these hubs in May, we built them to accommodate today’s vehicles while leaving room to grow,” says Charge co-founder and chairperson Joubert Roux.

“Within three months, demand from customers driving both passenger and commercial vehicles has made it clear that we need to bring that growth forward.

This expansion also reflects what is happening in South Africa’s EV market,” he adds.

“The latest naamsa figures show that electrified vehicles now account for 6% of new light vehicle sales, with new-energy-vehicle sales growing by over 500% year-on-year.

This is a recognised tipping point in market penetration. More EVs on the road means greater demand for charging, and the infrastructure needs to keep pace.”

Once the N3 upgrade is complete, even with six vehicles charging simultaneously, each EV will have access to a minimum of 120 kW, notes Roux.

“That means our minimum available power will equal the maximum available at other public charging sites in South Africa.”

According to Charge, at a constant charging rate, a passenger vehicle charging at 120 kW could add around 150 km of range in 15 minutes.

At 400 kW, that figure could rise to roughly 500 km over the same period, while an electric truck charging at 500 kW could add around 75 km.

Actual range added will vary depending on vehicle efficiency, battery characteristics and charging conditions.

The expansion extends beyond charging hardware, says Charge.

Solar capacity at each site will grow by 66.1%, from 280 kWp to 470 kWp, while battery storage will increase by 117.1%, from 645 kWh to 1.4 MWh.

The additional storage should help bank renewable energy and support high-power, off-grid charging when solar production is insufficient.

Charge expects to place orders for the upgrade in the coming weeks, with the expanded capacity targeted for completion before the end of the year.

The company’s next major rollout phase – along the N1 corridor – will be built with megawatt-level charging capacity from the start.

“The N3 has shown us what happens when the infrastructure is ready before the demand fully arrives,” says Roux. “We expect exactly the same story to play out on the N1 – and we’re already planning for it.”