Karen Singh|Published
Charging company CHARGE plans to double capacity at its two operating N3 electric-vehicle charging hubs from 360kW to as much as 720kW each, following growing demand from passenger and commercial vehicle drivers.
The upgrades, announced in August and targeted for completion before the end of 2026, could help freight operators introduce electric trucks along the Durban-Gauteng corridor, where dedicated truck charging and battery-swapping facilities are also proposed.
The hubs opened in May at the Reitz interchange in the Free State and Colenso-Winterton interchange in KwaZulu-Natal. Both operate on solar power backed by battery storage, without Eskom or municipal grid connections.
CHARGE co-founder and chair Joubert Roux said demand had prompted the company to bring forward the expansion.
“Within three months, demand from customers driving both passenger and commercial vehicles has made it clear that we need to bring that growth forward,” he said in the August announcement.
CHARGE said the expanded hubs would allow more vehicles to charge simultaneously. It estimated that a truck receiving a constant 500kW could gain around 75km of range in 15 minutes, although actual results depend on the truck, its battery, and charging conditions.
Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal Chief executive Sihle Ngcamu said the proposed freight network was linked to CHARGE's R9.4 billion investment pledge for off-grid charging infrastructure in the province, made at the KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference in 2024.
The provincial plan also includes 17 solar-powered passenger-vehicle charging stations. One of the operating N3 hubs is in KwaZulu-Natal, but no opening date has been announced for dedicated truck battery-swapping facilities.
“Electrifying the N3 also matters for freight, because it is the country's most important logistics corridor, and the truck charging and battery-swapping route points towards cleaner road freight between Durban and Gauteng,” Ngcamu said.
He said the province's established logistics infrastructure could attract businesses providing charging equipment and services to support electric freight transport.
Ngcamu also pointed to the operating N3 station as an example of an investment commitment at the provincial conference resulting in infrastructure on the ground.
In March, CHARGE Holdings announced a three-year agreement with fleet-services company Zimi to support electric delivery operations along the corridor. The agreement reserves up to 500kWh of energy a day at each station for Zimi-operated vehicles, according to the companies.
Roux said dependable charging would be crucial for fleet operators working to meet delivery schedules.
“For fleet operators running regular routes, charging must be predictable and reliable. They need to know where they can charge, whether sufficient capacity will be available, and how charging stops will fit into delivery schedules.”
Operators would also need to account for the distance trucks could travel between stops while carrying their usual commercial loads. Battery swapping could reduce downtime for compatible vehicles, but would require dedicated facilities and suitable trucks.
CHARGE plans to add solar panels and battery storage at the hubs as capacity increases.
Roux said the off-grid approach required substantial investment but could provide additional charging without drawing on local electricity networks.
He said replacing diesel trucks on suitable routes with electric vehicles could reduce transport emissions. For now, the expanded charging capacity is planned, while the timetable and eventual scale of the dedicated truck network remain unconfirmed.
karen.singh@nationalmg.co.za