To mark World EV Day today, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has launched the N3 EV Real-World Test, an initiative that will turn everyday electric vehicle journeys between Johannesburg and Durban into a growing source of real-world data for South African motorists and fleet operators considering the switch to electric.
The initiative aims to establish a single source of information for the real-world performance of both passenger and commercial electric vehicles, using one consistent test route, the CHARGE N3 Test Route, to create a benchmark against which different EVs can be compared over time.
While prospective EV buyers have access to manufacturer specifications on range, battery capacity, and efficiency, these figures do not always tell motorists and fleet owners what they most want to know: how an EV will actually perform on a South African long-distance journey under real road, weather, and driving conditions. CHARGE wants to help answer that question.
EV owners travelling between Johannesburg and Durban are being invited to use the N3 as a benchmark test route by using the two charging hubs that CHARGE has opened on the highway – CHARGE N3 Roadside at Leeukop Padstal in the Free State and CHARGE N3 Tugela at Three Towers Farm Stall in KwaZulu-Natal. Both hubs operate entirely off-grid using solar-powered microgrids and battery storage. The hubs currently have 360kW charging capacity, with upgrades to up to 720kW planned. This high-capacity infrastructure is designed to meet the charging needs of both passenger and commercial EVs, including vehicles capable of ultra-fast charging, providing a more accurate picture of real-world charging performance.
In exchange for sharing their vehicle and journey data, participating drivers who sign up for the initiative will receive CHARGE credits to cover their charging costs on the N3 test route.
“Electric vehicle adoption is accelerating, but for many South Africans there is still a gap between what they see on a specification sheet and what they want to know before buying a vehicle,” said Joubert Roux, CHARGE Co-Founder and Chair.
“Motorists and fleet operators want to know what range they can realistically expect on the open road, how much energy a vehicle uses between Johannesburg and Durban, and how factors such as elevation, weather and driving conditions affect performance. The best way to answer those questions is to start building a body of South African real-world data.
Ultimately, we want potential buyers to be able to compare apples with apples. By testing passenger and commercial EVs on the same route and collecting actual driving and charging data, the CHARGE Test can establish a consistent South African benchmark that consumers and businesses can use to make more informed decisions.”
Drivers who want to participate can sign up through the CHARGE website, providing basic details about their planned journey and EV, including the vehicle make and model and whether they will be travelling from Johannesburg to Durban, Durban to Johannesburg, or completing a return trip.
Once registered, participants will need to download the CHARGE app, where they will receive a free charging voucher linked to their account and will have two months to complete their N3 EV Test. During the journey, charging data from participating vehicles, including charging duration, energy delivered (kWh), charging speed and charging session information, will be collected. Participants will also complete a short post-test questionnaire to provide additional information about their vehicle and journey.
Calling all EV drivers!
SIGN UPSign up for the N3 EV real-world test and get CHARGE credits to cover your charging cost while traveling the N3 route.
What’s in it for you?
A free trip between Joburg and Durban. Bragging rights. And taking one for the tribe.
What’s the catch?
Nothing. Niks. Zip. Nada. Dololo. Except you need to fill in the form!
The data will then be anonymised or aggregated to build a growing picture of how different passenger and commercial EVs perform under real-world N3 driving and charging conditions.
The results will allow CHARGE to compare real-world EV performance across factors including:
- distance travelled and elevation change;
- battery percentage on arrival and battery used;
- range efficiency; and
- energy efficiency measured in kWh per 100 km; and
- actual charging performance, including power (kW), amperage, voltage and charging time.
Rather than attempting to compare vehicles under artificial or identical test conditions, the project is designed to capture the reality of EV ownership. Different cars, drivers, loads, weather conditions and driving styles will all contribute to a growing picture of how electric vehicles perform on one of South Africa’s major intercity routes.
“One trip gives us one data point. Hundreds of trips across different vehicles and conditions begin to give South African consumers something much more useful,” said Roux.
“The purpose is not to crown a winning EV. It is to give people access to practical information that can help them understand which vehicle may work for their needs and what they can realistically expect when they take it on the road. Because the information will be built from crowd-sourced data generated by real vehicles and drivers, the dataset will become increasingly meaningful as participation grows. Over time, the CHARGE Test can provide an impartial real-world reference covering the breadth of passenger and commercial electric vehicles available in South Africa.”
Once sufficient test data has been collected, CHARGE will publish aggregated results on its website, creating an accessible real-world resource for prospective EV buyers, fleet operators, existing EV owners, vehicle manufacturers and the wider electric mobility industry.
The initiative builds on CHARGE’s May launch of its first two off-grid, solar-powered charging hubs along the Johannesburg-Durban N3 corridor. The hubs were developed to support both passenger and commercial electric vehicles and form part of CHARGE’s planned national network of off-grid charging infrastructure.
EV drivers interested in participating in the N3 EV Real-World Test can sign up at https://charge.co.za/n3-real-world-ev-tests/ Participants will receive CHARGE credits towards the charging costs of their qualifying N3 test journey.
Media Enquiries:
Samantha Jackson
[email protected]
