In a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt electric vehicle usage, the province on Tuesday (May 14) began rolling out electric vehicle charging stations at Standard Bank offices in Brandwag, Bloemfontein.
There will be zero carbon charging stations along all major national routes of the Free State and 15 electric passenger car charging stations and seven truck charging stations in various municipalities including Dihlabeng, Kopanong, Mafube, Maluti-a-Phofung, Mangaung, Mantsopa, Masilonyana, Metsimaholo, Mohokare, Moqhaka, Ngwathe, Phumelela and Tokologo.
“The long-term environmental benefits will be enormous if we can transition our entire transport sector away from fossil fuels, petrol and diesel, as this is the only way to achieve our net-zero transport sector targets. It is important that Vrijstaat plays a leading role in this and almost acts as an example for other provinces,” says Zero Carbon Charge founder Joubert Roux.
Memorandum of Understanding signed by MEC of Destea Thabo Meeko and Joubert Roux Zero Carbon Charge founder. Photo: Warren Hawkins
“We are here today to sign a letter of intent with Destea. This is the first network that we are rolling out with the support of a province.”
“The first phase of the rollout will involve charging stations along national roads in the country and this will be part of 120 renewable energy electric passenger car charging stations and 120 truck charging stations that Zero Carbon Charge and Zero Carbon Logistics are building across the country” , said Roux.
Their goal is to have all stations open by September 2025. “We expect to see exponential growth in electric vehicle adoption from the middle of this year through next year.”
Joubert Roux explained how the charging stations will work. Photo: Warren Hawkins
Zero Carbon Charge is an investment company that committed R230 million at the Free State Investment Conference held on Tuesday 28 February.
“With the province’s vision to make the province an energy hub, this initiative is in line with the provincial government’s vision to position the Free State as the central energy security hub of the country,” said Free State MEC Destea Thabo Meeko.
“The primary goal behind this partnership with Destea and the provincial government is to stimulate the local economy and create jobs and new opportunities for small businesses.”
MEC of Destea Thabo Meeko, MEC of Finance Gadija Brown and Zero Carbon Charge founder Joubert Roux at the launch. Photo: Warren Hawkins
“This project that we are launching today is very important for us, we are the first province to launch charging stations for solar-based energy generation. It is one of its kind and we are in discussions with the investor and looking at the possibility of this batteries are produced in our province,” Meeko said.
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