Zero Carbon Charge (Charge) has launched an N3 EV Real-World Test to collect data on how passenger and commercial electric vehicles perform on long-distance journeys between Johannesburg and Durban.
Launched on 9 September to mark World EV Day, the initiative will use a consistent N3 test route to build a South African benchmark for EV range, energy efficiency and charging performance under real road, weather and driving conditions.
While prospective EV buyers have access to manufacturer specifications for range, battery capacity and efficiency, these figures do not always show how a vehicle will perform on a South African long-distance journey.
Charge aims to address this gap by inviting EV owners travelling between Johannesburg and Durban to use the N3 as a benchmark test route.
Participants will use two Charge charging hubs on the highway: Charge N3 Roadside at Leeukop Padstal in the Free State and Charge N3 Tugela at Three Towers Farm Stall in KwaZulu-Natal.
Both hubs operate entirely off-grid using solar-powered microgrids and battery storage. The hubs currently have 360kW of charging capacity, with upgrades to up to 720kW planned.
The high-capacity infrastructure is designed to support both passenger and commercial EVs, including vehicles capable of ultra-fast charging, providing a consistent environment for collecting real-world charging data.
“Electric vehicle adoption is accelerating, but for many South Africans there is still a gap between what they see on a specification sheet and what they want to know before buying a vehicle,” said Joubert Roux, CHARGE Co-Founder and Chair.
“Motorists and fleet operators want to know what range they can realistically expect on the open road, how much energy a vehicle uses between Johannesburg and Durban, and how factors such as elevation, weather and driving conditions affect performance. The best way to answer those questions is to start building a body of South African real-world data.
"Ultimately, we want potential buyers to be able to compare apples with apples. By testing passenger and commercial EVs on the same route and collecting actual driving and charging data, the CHARGE Test can establish a consistent South African benchmark that consumers and businesses can use to make more informed decisions.”
Drivers invited to share journey data
Drivers travelling between Johannesburg and Durban can register to participate in the test by providing basic details about their planned journey and EV, including the vehicle make and model and whether they will be travelling from Johannesburg to Durban, Durban to Johannesburg, or completing a return trip.
Once registered, participants will need to download the Charge app, where they will receive a free charging voucher linked to their account. They will then have two months to complete their N3 EV Test.
During the journey, charging data from participating vehicles will be collected, including charging duration, energy delivered in kWh, charging speed and charging-session information.
Participants will also complete a short post-test questionnaire to provide additional information about their vehicle and journey.
The data will be anonymised or aggregated to build a growing picture of how different passenger and commercial EVs perform under real-world N3 driving and charging conditions.
The results will allow Charge to compare real-world EV performance across factors including:
• Distance travelled and elevation change;
• Battery percentage on arrival and battery used;
• Range efficiency;
• Energy efficiency measured in kWh per 100km; and
• Actual charging performance, including power (kW), amperage, voltage and charging time.
Rather than attempting to compare vehicles under artificial or identical test conditions, the project is designed to capture the reality of EV ownership.
Different cars, drivers, loads, weather conditions and driving styles will contribute to a growing picture of how electric vehicles perform on one of South Africa’s major intercity routes.
“One trip gives us one data point. Hundreds of trips across different vehicles and conditions begin to give South African consumers something much more useful,” said Roux.
“The purpose is not to crown a winning EV. It is to give people access to practical information that can help them understand which vehicle may work for their needs and what they can realistically expect when they take it on the road. Because the information will be built from crowd-sourced data generated by real vehicles and drivers, the dataset will become increasingly meaningful as participation grows.
"Over time, the Charge Test can provide an impartial real-world reference covering the breadth of passenger and commercial electric vehicles available in South Africa.”
Once sufficient test data has been collected, Charge will publish aggregated results on its website, creating an accessible real-world resource for prospective EV buyers, fleet operators, existing EV owners, vehicle manufacturers and the wider electric mobility industry. Charge is already displaying early N3 test results on its website.
The initiative builds on Charge’s May launch of its first two off-grid, solar-powered charging hubs along the Johannesburg-Durban N3 corridor. The hubs were developed to support both passenger and commercial electric vehicles and form part of Charge’s planned national network of off-grid charging infrastructure.
EV drivers interested in participating in the N3 EV Real-World Test can register via the Charge website.
Participants will receive Charge credits towards the charging costs of their qualifying N3 test journey.
