Govt, private sector must collaborate on EV infrastructure missing from Transport budget – CHARGE
It is time to open meaningful collaboration between government and the private sector to scale up electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to benefit all South Africans, sustainable EV charging company Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) says.
The company has welcomed Transport Minister Barbara Creecy's strategic and continued focus on building a resilient transport system, but notes that concrete plans and timelines for such infrastructure were absent from the Department of Transport's (DoT’s) 2025 budget vote.
“We ask that the DoT formally engages with CHARGE and other innovators in this space to remove bottlenecks, align regulatory pathways and jointly build a credible, future-ready transport system that benefits all South Africans,” says CHARGE founder Joubert Roux.
“Zero Carbon Charge is proud to be leading the charge in this space, currently rolling out South Africa’s first national network of 120 dedicated, offgrid, ultrafast EV charging station that are powered by solar PV and battery storage.
“This infrastructure is shovel-ready, an example of a private-sector initiative capable of enabling long-distance EV travel, without placing any strain on the national grid,” he says.
There is strong alignment between what government says it wants to achieve and what CHARGE has already built and is ready to scale. The technology, model and business case are designed around South Africa’s energy and mobility needs, he adds.
By using proven renewables technology, avoiding reliance on grid-tied electricity and offering an entirely green mobility solution, CHARGE has demonstrated that decarbonising transport can be fast, inclusive and privately led.
“We believe EV infrastructure is essential for climate targets, as well as to safeguard South Africa’s vital automotive export market, which will increasingly depend on EV production and adoption,” notes Roux.
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