Latest news with #ZeroCarbonCharge
TimesLIVE
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
How does a MINI Countryman SE All4 handle a 465km round trip?
Long-distance touring with an electric vehicle can be daunting. Not only is there the prospect of 'range anxiety' to deal with, there is also the notion of 'charger anxiety', as a seasoned consultant on the subject explained to me. The fear is that even though you might have enough juice to get from one point to the next, your intended charging destination could be occupied or offline. Load-shedding is usually the cause for the latter. Luckily, GridCars, which operates most of the charging facilities in South Africa, has app functionality which informs users what the status of their chosen facility is. Last weekend myself and our long-term MINI Countryman SE embarked on our first-ever cross-province drive: from Joburg to Wolmaransstad and back — the furthest I had ever travelled in an electric vehicle, ever. Happily I can report that neither of the earlier-mentioned 'anxieties' wracked my brain. The whole journey was as smooth as one could hope for, popping my long-distance electric trip cherry. I hear you asking, why Wolmaransstad? And where is that anyway? The tiny town lies about 100km outside Potchefstroom in North West province. It's an agricultural stronghold, but it's also a strategic location for an off-grid solar charging facility on the N12 national route. There is space for six vehicles to charge, and it can handle commercial EVs up to eight tons. Operated by the firm Zero Carbon Charge, the Wolmaransstad facility is the first in a planned network of 120 stations, built within 150km of each other. The idea is to enable stress-free, cross-country mobility for electric car drivers. Getting registered to use the Zero Carbon Charge platform proved simple: download an app, link a card for payment, then scan a QR code at the charging infrastructure to get going. My day began at 6.30am. The MINI had been fully-charged using our office AC plug point and the vehicle indicated a range of about 380km. The biggest range I have yet seen on the MINI is 406km, after using a 30kW DC outlet. The range claimed by the manufacturer is 433km. MINI states the average consumption of the Countryman SE as 17kWh/100km. I met up with two other industry colleagues in their electric cars at a spot on Jan Smuts Avenue 7km away. From there, it was a 229km stretch to Wolmaransstad, using the N2 and N12. 'Stretch' might be overselling it though, because with the indicated range of the MINI Countryman, the experience turned out to be a doddle. As a precautionary measure we decided to stop in Potchefstroom (halfway to Wolmaransstad), should anyone require a charge at the GridCars facility at the Mooirivier Mall. By the time we arrived there, my battery life was at 70%, with electricity consumption around 14kWh/100km. It would have been even better, but at some point during the journey I decided to crank up my heater and heated steering wheel. It was a frosty morning. Nobody needed to charge up n Potchefstroom, so onward we trekked. Crucial to mention is that my driving style was not overly conservative. All I did was stick to the speed limits and modulate the accelerator gently on take-offs. No over-the-top hyper-miling techniques were deployed: just a real-world driving style, keeping with the ebb and flow of traffic. The vehicle was kept in the dedicated Green setting, adopting a mapping profile that prioritises range over performance. If you drive the car in the most extreme mode of conservation, it caps permitted speed to 90km/h. By the time we arrived at the solar set-up in Wolmaransstad, the Countryman's battery life was 43%, with consumption in the region of 15kWh/100km. My next move was to plug one of the fast-chargers into the 'tank' of the MINI and initiate the job. The peak output of the charger fluctuated between 30kW to a peak of 75kW, which enabled a juice-up from 43% to 100% in about 90 minutes. We passed the time in the on-site Farm Flair restaurant, stocked with everything from biltong to koeksisters. In all, the vehicle's battery took 37.38kWh to achieve fully-charged status (the total battery size is 66.5kWh); costing R342.03, which works out to R9.15 per kWh. A full battery from empty would cost about R608. The total trip distance from Johannesburg to Wolmaransstad and back was 465km, so in effect I paid R1.35 per km. How does the electric Countryman compare to a petrol-powered one in terms of cost versus range? The current inland price per litre for 95 unleaded is R21.40 and the 2.0l Countryman S has a 54l tank size, working out to about R1,155. With a claimed consumption of 6.5l/100km you could expect a range in the region of 608km — roughly R1.89 per km. The savings in fuel bills represented by the electric model would translate into savings over the long-term, but the difference in initial outlay is also a factor that might influence your purchasing decision. The Countryman SE costs R1,086,000 while the regular S is R810,774. The next item on the agenda for our MINI? The customary Gerotek shakedown. LONG-TERM UPDATE 3 | MINI Countryman SE ALL4 ODOMETER ON DELIVERY: 4,621km PRAISES: Strong range on a full-charge makes lengthier journeys possible. GRIPES: Central armrest has no storage bin.
TimesLIVE
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
DBSA is investing R100m in EV charging stations
Zero Carbon Charge (Charge) has installed a national network of off-grid, solar-powered and fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in South Africa. The company has announced a R100m equity investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). The funding will enable the rollout of charging stations every 150km along national roads. Each site is fully off-grid, powered by solar energy and supported by battery storage. The company's first off-grid EV charging station opened in Wolmaransstad in the North West in November. The station boasts up to six DC fast-charging points for EVs and two AC charging points for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The DC fast-chargers with hardware provided by Chinese technology partners Greencore Energy Solutions and Magic Power are claimed to charge an EV in about 25 minutes. A total of 120 solar-powered charging facilities will be rolled out at 150km intervals on national highways in 2025. The Cape-based company has developed an app for Android and iOS for transactions at its EV charging stations. Motorists will be able to enjoy a cup of coffee and a bite to eat at the farm stall located at the station. Landowners who allow Charge to install the charging stations receive 5% of annual electricity revenue.
Mail & Guardian
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Mail & Guardian
Fuelling the future: Solar-powered charging for South Africa's electric trucks
Trucking is the lifeblood of the South African economy. Thousands of trucks travel up and down the national highways every day to transport food and various items and commodities to far-flung corners of the country. This means the industry's need to transition to cleaner energy solutions is becoming increasingly important, particularly as climate control becomes a more significant issue. Several electric commercial vehicles and trucks have been introduced in recent years. The Tesla Semi, for example, has an estimated range of more than 800km when fully loaded, according to the manufacturer. Moreover, the battery pack can be charged to 70% in around 30 minutes, making it about as practical as a conventional diesel-powered truck. Tesla isn't the only brand that sells electric trucks. In recent years, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Scania have introduced them. However, in a country such as South Africa, where long-distance driving is routine, a superior charging network is needed to allow the use of fully electric trucks and commercial vehicles. The latest statistics suggest that South Africa has about 350 public chargers across the country. While that's enough to support the current number of electric vehicles, it would need to be significantly expanded to accommodate electric trucks. Recognising this, electric vehicle charging company Zero Carbon Charge is implementing an ambitious plan to roll out 120 solar-powered truck charging stations along national highways. According to the company, this will be the first of its kind, with the off-grid infrastructure providing 100% green energy to charge electric trucks nationwide. The first six sites, expected to be built on the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban, would allow electric trucks to travel between South Africa's economic hub and the busiest port in the country. South Africa-based City Logistics recently conducted a trial with an electric truck. The drivers found much to like about the battery-powered vehicle. A four-tonne Mitsubishi eCanter truck was used on a set 80km route, meaning the truck was never at risk of depleting its battery. The trial showed that the truck could complete the route using just 40% to 50% of its battery, proving that electric trucks can fit seamlessly into urban and regional delivery operations. The logistics company charged their truck at the depot but solar-powered charging stations could significantly ease the process for electric truck operators. It's worth noting that the eCanter could charge from 20% to 100% in less than an hour when plugged into a 50kW charger. However, the advent of an EV truck charging network would allow companies to adopt electric trucks with confidence. Drivers noted the eCanter's efficiency and smooth driving experience. The truck's electric motor delivers instant torque from 0 r/min, making it feel more responsive than its diesel counterparts. It's also quieter and smoother, offering a comfortable driving experience while maintaining strong performance. Additionally, recharging the batteries is significantly cheaper than refuelling a diesel truck. 'Electric trucks present a major opportunity for the logistics industry,' said City Logistics chief executive Ryan Gaines. 'The potential savings in fuel and maintenance alone make them an attractive prospect and advancements in charging infrastructure will only accelerate their adoption. As the industry moves toward lower-emission transport solutions, companies must assess how best to integrate electric vehicles into their fleets in the near future.' Globally, electric trucks — also known as heavy electric vehicles — are growing in popularity, with sales increasing annually. According to a recent report, the electric truck market is expected to increase by $20.32 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate of 35.44%. As mentioned, many companies are seeing the long-term cost benefits, with reduced fuel expenditure and less frequent maintenance being two of several drawcards. One of the world's largest food and beverage companies, PepsiCo, announced in May 2024 that it would introduce 50 Tesla Semi trucks to its fleet. The American giant is one of the first global companies to employ the Tesla in daily operations. The trucks will be supported by 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans for shorter journeys. At the time, PepsiCo said these additions would help the company reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2040. While South Africa's transition is still in its early stages, initiatives like Zero Carbon Charge are laying the foundation for a similar shift.
