“We are thrilled to be officially opening our first off-grid charging station, which marks a significant milestone in SA’s transition to EVs and a carbon-free future. This has been a three-year journey, highlighting our commitment to making our off-grid network a reality as we believe it will benefit South Africans in many ways,” said Joubert Roux, executive chair of Charge.
The Wolmaransstad charging facility, along with the network of 120 charging stations planned, will create an income stream for landowners on which the facilities are built. Landowners, including Jan Holliday on whose farm the first charging station is built, will earn 5% of the revenue generated from vehicles charging on their land.
“The project created work opportunities for local community members during the construction phase, with the charging station employing local staff permanently for its operational management. Local farmers will benefit from supplying the farm stall with their fresh produce,” said Feliti.
Volvo Cars SA provided vehicles for the official opening to demonstrate how the charging station works and for their support for driving green mobility and off-grid charging.
“As we plan the rollout of more EV charging stations across the country, we will continue to work closely with government and partners to help SA meet its carbon emissions reduction targets,” said Roux.