Zero Carbon Charge to establish off-grid electric truck charging network in SA

Source: Supplied

The initial six sites will be built on the major N3 freight route between Durban and Johannesburg.

This offering is in response to the growing shift by major truck manufacturers to producing electric truck models, with many truck manufacturers already committed to achieving full electric transition by 2040.

"The shift to electric trucks offers a major opportunity for South Africa to meet its Green Transport Strategy goal of reducing transport-related CO2 emissions by 5% by 2050," says Joubert Roux, co-founder of Zero Carbon Charge.

The environmental impact of electric trucks

"Every day, 8,756 trucks travel on the N3 between Durban and Johannesburg, using over 658m litres of fuel at an import cost of R8bn, emitting 1,781,256,762 kg of CO2 emissions per year. Replacing these fuel-powered trucks with electric models will save 670 kg of CO2 emissions per truck per day, significantly reducing our country’s reliance on expensive dirty fossil fuel imports," Roux adds.

"The growth in electric trucks will create an increased energy demand: the electricity required to charge the 8,756 trucks using the N3 route daily totalling an additional 2.3 billion kWh/year alone. If one takes into account all 14 national roads, the country would need an additional 8 billion kWh/year of electricity to power the 30,000 electric trucks travelling on these routes daily, placing a major strain on the national grid.

What's in store for South Africa's trucking industry in 2024?

29 Jan 2024

"It is therefore critical that we start investing in off-grid infrastructure to power these trucks, particularly while travelling on long haul routes. This is the focus of Zero Carbon Logistics, which will build 120 truck charging stations across all national roads in South Africa. The first six sites on the N3 have started the permitting process, and we hope to be up and running by November 2027," says Andries Malherbe, co-founder of Zero Carbon Charge.

Sustainable charging solutions

These charging stations will be off-grid, with each facility powered by 35 MWp of Solar PV, which means that they will be able to continue servicing customers during loadshedding and will not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. In light of Eskom’s electricity network being powered primarily by dirty coal for the foreseeable future, says Malherbe, a major shift towards electric trucks poses the real risk of increased CO2 emissions.

Zero Carbon Charge’s research shows that an electric truck charged by the Eskom network could emit 37.5% more CO2e emissions per kilometre compared to an equivalent diesel-powered truck.

Each station will deploy ultra-fast charging technology coupled with modular battery packs that are being developed in China, to be able to charge a truck within 20 minutes. A big focus of the project is creating safe, clean facilities for truck drivers to rest, which, in turn, will increase road safety. Each station will offer restrooms, a shop, fast WI-FI and 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.

Commitment to green mobility

"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," says Roux.

"Critical to the success of our electric truck charging network roll-out, is obtaining the necessary government approvals to build the sites. In this regard, we would like to thank the Green Energy unit from InvestSA in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) as well as the KwaZulu Natal Trade and Industry Authority for the guidance they have provided thus far in getting the project off the ground.

"We remain committed to continue working with government to create mass-scale renewable energy solutions that will support our country’s shift to green mobility and the creation of a net-zero transport industry."