South Africa getting 127 new electric car charging stations
Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has partnered with Tibco’s Chargify to roll out 127 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the country.
The new sites will consist of a mix of AC and DC chargers to be rolled out in two phases — at a total cost of R40 million.
“This investment is aimed at not only providing current customers with a reliable charging network but also instilling confidence in those considering the switch to electric vehicle ownership,” the companies said.
The rollout is being targeted at main routes, between metropolitan areas, airports, shopping malls, restaurant hubs, private hospitals, strategic expansion sites, residential estates, and small towns.
In the first phase, 67 Mercedes-Benz EQ-branded charging stations will be installed across South Africa by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
After this initial rollout, the remaining 60 stations will be built in “key areas” in the second phase.
The companies are yet to reveal when this phase is scheduled for completion.
As it stands, the following locations already feature EQ-branded charging station infrastructure:
- BT Ngebs Mall and Mayfair Hotel in Mthatha
- Courtyard Sandton, Johannesburg
- Champagne Castle, Drakensberg
- Da Vinci Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg
- Highwaymans Garage in Pilgrim’s Rest
- Silvermist Wine Estate, Hout Bay
- Woodhill Estate and Country Club
Locations currently being installed include the Plettenberg Hotel, Wilderness Hotel, Swartberg Hotel in Prince Albert, and Karoo Junction Mall in Beaufort West.
The companies said they were actively working to build the country’s most extensive EV public charging network.
Mercedes-Benz EQ-branded charging station at Woodhill Country Club in Pretoria.
Mercedes-Benz currently offers six EV models under its EQ range in South Africa.
The most affordable model is the EQA250 Progressive, which starts at R1.176 million.
Owners of Mercedes-Benz EQ models will enjoy a 10% discount on recharges at the new stations.
The chargers will be open to other users, including those that use the GridCars ActiveCharge network.
GridCars is South Africa’s biggest EV charging network operator and recently told MyBroadband there were roughly 400 public and private charging stations in the country.
Among these are several rolled out in partnership with vehicle manufacturers like Audi and Jaguar.
Another major electric charging network operator — Rubicon — is expanding its charging stations to 250 by the end of 2024.
This includes 20–30 new 50kW DC charging stations with AC adapters at Volvo dealerships selling the company’s most affordable EV and fastest production car yet — the EX30.
With the addition of the MBSA/Chargify and the roughly 400 stations already live, South Africa could have around 700 charging stations in just over a year’s time.
That does not include other charging stations to be rolled out by GridCars or smaller operators like Zero Carbon Charge.
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