Zero Carbon Charge (ZCC), a clean energy infrastructure company, has partnered with the Free State government to build the network.

The project will install 120 charging stations across the province, 75 dedicated to passenger cars and 45 for electric trucks. Completion is expected by September 2025.

“This initiative promotes not only off-grid EV charging but also socio-economic benefits,” said Free State Minister Thabo Meeko. The project is expected to create jobs and contribute to skills development in the clean energy sector.

ZCC’s charging stations will be powered entirely by solar energy, making them independent of the national grid and immune to power cuts. This also aligns with South Africa’s goal of reducing reliance on its coal-fired power plants.

“Solar charging offers a clean, zero-emission alternative to Eskom’s grid,” ZCC stated. Eskom is the state-owned power utility in South Africa.

The project will cover 13 municipalities across the Free State province, making EV charging accessible to a wider range of residents.

This initiative is part of ZCC’s broader plan to establish a national network of 240 renewable energy-powered charging stations for both passenger and commercial electric vehicles.

Research suggests electric vehicles could account for a significant portion of new car sales in the country by 2030, making this infrastructure crucial for the future.