CHARGE to Double N3 EV Charging Capacity to 720 kW

In Short

• CHARGE will double charging capacity at its two N3 corridor hubs.
• Each site will rise from 360 kW to up to 720 kW.
• Solar and battery storage at each hub will also expand, with completion targeted before the end of 2026.

What Happened

Three months after launching its off-grid EV charging hubs on the N3, CHARGE says it will upgrade both sites to handle higher demand from drivers of electric passenger vehicles and commercial fleets.

The upgrade lifts total charging capacity per hub from 360 kW to up to 720 kW. Power will be shared automatically across vehicles depending on how many are plugged in and how much each vehicle can accept. Where capacity allows, the system can send up to 600 kW to a single connector. That matters for larger battery packs and for electric trucks that need higher charging rates.

CHARGE says that after the upgrade, even with six vehicles charging at once, each vehicle should still have access to at least 120 kW. It also says the sites are being prepared for more 800-volt EVs, which are vehicles built for faster charging at higher voltage.

Energy supply at each hub is also being expanded. Solar capacity will increase by 66.1%, from 280 kWp to 470 kWp. Battery storage will increase by 117.1%, from 645 kWh to 1.4 MWh. kWp is the peak output of solar panels under ideal sun, and MWh is stored energy, like a bigger fuel tank for electricity.

Why It Matters

South Africa’s EV market is growing off a small base, and NAAMSA data cited by CHARGE puts electrified vehicles at 6% of new light vehicle sales. More EVs on the N3 increases the risk of queues and slower turnarounds, especially for freight operators.

The plan also leans into energy resilience. By banking solar power in batteries, CHARGE aims to keep high-power charging running without relying on the national grid during low generation periods.

CHARGE says it expects to place orders for the upgrade in the coming weeks, and wants the expanded capacity live before year-end. It also says its next rollout on the N1 corridor will be built with megawatt-level charging in mind from the start.