Ahead of Zero Emissions Day on 21 September 2024, Zero Carbon Charge reaffirms its commitment to driving sustainable, zero-emission mobility in South Africa.
Our nationwide development of 120 off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations is poised to play a critical role in helping South Africa meet its CO2 reduction targets, as outlined by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Climate Change Act of South Africa.
In response to the increasing demand for electric mobility, Executive Chairman of Zero Carbon Charge, Joubert Roux, emphasises the urgent need for sustainable infrastructure:
“As South Africa ramps up its EV adoption in line with global and national climate change commitments, it is vital to acknowledge that our national grid is not equipped to sustain the level of electricity required to charge an entire fleet of EVs. If we rely solely on the grid, we risk exacerbating the CO2 emissions problem, as the grid is largely powered by coal. Simply shifting from petrol to grid-powered EVs won’t solve the problem—it’s just increasing and moving the emissions upstream.”
Zero Carbon Charge’s off-grid EV charging approach directly addresses South Africa’s dual challenges of achieving its CO2 reduction targets while navigating the limitations of its energy infrastructure. According to research conducted by Zero Carbon Charge, over one million tonnes of CO2e will be reduced from EVs charged on their charging network between 2026 and 2030.
Zero Carbon Charge is, at its core, a large-scale, national carbon emission reduction initiative – as it aims to mitigate the impact of climate change through renewable energy-driven charging stations, offering a totally green alternative to grid-tied chargers. Every EV charged at these stations will be entirely carbon-free, supporting the DFFE’s target of reducing seventy six and a half million (76,500,000) tonnes of CO2 by 2030.
Zero Carbon Charge has written to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Affairs to confirm its support toward the intended carbon emission reduction targets based on the published draft sectoral emissions target report, and intends to request that more focus and support be given to off-grid charging EV charging during the upcoming Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) Roundtable Discussion on the Transition to NEVs taking place on Friday, 20 September 2024.
For context, an average diesel car emits 8.6 tonnes of CO2 per year, while a petrol car emits 4.4 tonnes annually. In comparison, an EV charged from the South African grid indirectly emits 5.8 tonnes of CO2 per year, depending on the energy sources used for electricity generation. This emphasises why off-grid, renewably powered EV charging is the only viable option for carbon emission reduction. It will also be a vital part of meeting the Department of Transport’s target of net-zero transport by 2050.
Zero Carbon Charge firmly believes, based on its own research, that this can be done with existing technology. Commenting on the transition to net-zero transport system, Roux said:
“It is possible to migrate the current entire fleet on ENATIS (Electronic National Traffic Information System) to zero emissions vehicles powered by renewable electricity, which could save in the order of 97 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2050.”
Zero Carbon Charge calls on the South African government to strengthen its support for green projects like ours by reducing red tape that prevents the rapid development by private investors to develop renewable energy projects such as off-grid charging EV charging stations if it is serious about addressing Climate Change by reducing carbon emissions.
“We are calling on the government to recognize the importance of off-grid, renewable-powered charging infrastructure in the fight against climate change,” concludes Roux. “It’s time to take bold action to ensure that the transition to electric vehicles truly supports our net-zero goals. We cannot afford to fall short of our climate commitments. We owe it to our children to do this with speed.”
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Larissa Venter
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