Zero Carbon Charge, a South African startup building a national network of off-grid, solar-powered ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, has announced a ZAR100 million (US$5.6 million) equity investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
Founded to solve South Africa’s EV infrastructure challenges, Zero Carbon Charge is implementing a decentralized energy generation model, producing power at the point of use. This ensures a clean, reliable energy supply for electric mobility—entirely independent of Eskom and traditional grid limitations.
The startup’s latest ZAR100 million investment from DBSA marks a major vote of confidence in its mission to drive climate-resilient infrastructure and advance South Africa’s transition to a net-zero transport economy.
“This show of faith by the DBSA is not just financial – it is symbolic. We are truly grateful,”
— Andries Malherbe, Director and Co-founder, Zero Carbon Charge
Rolling Out EV Charging Stations Every 150km
The funding will accelerate the nationwide rollout of ultra-fast EV charging stations positioned every 150 kilometers along South Africa’s national roads. Each site will be:
- Fully off-grid
- Powered by solar energy
- Supported by battery storage systems
This setup eliminates range anxiety for EV users and reduces dependency on South Africa’s struggling national power grid. It also lays the groundwork for a sustainable and scalable EV infrastructure network in alignment with global climate goals.
Leading South Africa’s EV Transition
Zero Carbon Charge is at the forefront of South Africa’s green transport revolution, providing scalable, locally powered alternatives to conventional EV charging. With strategic support from the DBSA, the company is positioned to be a key enabler of net-zero mobility across the country.
For more information, visit: https://zerocarboncharge.co.za
