Solar-powered charging station provider Zero Carbon Charge has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement, in an address at SA Auto Week, in Cape Town, on October 17, that government is considering introducing new incentives to encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles (EVs).

The President indicated that these incentives could include tax rebates for consumers who currently face a 25% tax on EVs compared with the 18% tax on internal combustion engine vehicles.

While the company welcomed this news, it stressed that, for EVs to contribute towards a reduction in the country’s carbon emissions, they needed to be powered by green energy sources.

It cited its research which shows that an EV charged from State-owned entity Eskom’s predominantly coal-powered grid indirectly emits 5.8 t/y of CO₂ compared with a petrol car, which emits 4.4 t/y of CO₂.

“The development of an off-grid, renewably powered EV charging network is the only viable option for South Africa to meet its carbon reduction goals. It will also play a vital part in meeting the Department of Transport’s target of net-zero transport by 2050,” says Zero Carbon Charge executive chairperson Joubert Roux.

The company is developing a network of 120 solar-powered, off-grid charging stations for electric passenger and light commercial vehicles, as well as 120 charging stations for electric trucks.

These stations, which will be located on major highways across the country, will be loadshedding-proof and equipped with ultra-fast charging technology, the company states.

“This project is a large-scale, national carbon emission reduction initiative that can contribute towards our country’s just energy transition. Charge estimates that if we fully migrate the vehicle fleet currently registered on government’s electronic national administration traffic information system to EVs charged with solar power, we could reduce the country’s carbon emissions by over 97-million tonnes of CO₂e per year,” Roux highlights.

“Zero Carbon Charge looks forward to hearing more details about the EV incentives to be introduced by President Ramaphosa. We hope that any government strategy to encourage a transition to EVs will prioritise the reduction of red tape currently hampering the development of off-grid EV charging stations on our roads. CHARGE remains committed to working with government to create a green, sustainable transport sector in South Africa,” he adds.