Zimi and Zero Carbon Holdings (CHARGE Holdings) are proud to announce a three-year agreement to support the rollout of electric freight operations along South Africa’s N3 corridor.
The partnership aims to accelerate EV logistics along one of South Africa’s most critical transport routes.
Zimi acts as a logistics aggregator, working with commercial fleet operators to deploy electric vehicles on fixed routes while securing reliable charging access. By bundling vehicles, energy, and software in one unified lease, Zimi removes the complexity of electrification for last-mile and long-haul operators alike.
CHARGE Holdings operates Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) and Zero Carbon Logistics (CHARGE Logistics). The partnership comes as CHARGE prepares to launch two new off-grid, solar-powered EV charging stations along the N3 freight route between Johannesburg and Durban in May 2026. This is the CHARGE N3 Tugela in KwaZulu-Natal and CHARGE N3 Roadside in the Free State. These stations will support Zimi’s rollout of electric delivery fleets along the corridor.
Under the agreement, Zimi-operated vehicles will have reserved charging capacity of up to 500kWh per station per day, ensuring reliable energy access for electric delivery fleets. Each site will support peak charging of over 300kW with six fast-charging connectors capable of delivering up to 600A.
By generating power directly at the charging site, the model aims to protect fleet operators from rising electricity tariffs and volatile fuel prices while enabling more predictable operating costs. The N3 rollout forms part of CHARGE’s broader national deployment strategy.
Michael Maas, Zimi CEO said the partnership represents an important step toward scaling electric logistics in South Africa. “Reliable, always-on charging infrastructure is essential for fleet electrification. Working with CHARGE holdings allows us to deploy electric delivery vehicles on one of the country’s busiest freight routes while ensuring predictable charging access and operational uptime.”
Andries Malherbe, co-founder and Director of CHARGE Holdings, said the collaboration demonstrates how renewable charging infrastructure can support long-distance electric freight. “This is true electrification of long-distance logistics.
“By partnering with Zimi, we are demonstrating how off-grid renewable charging infrastructure can support reliable, long-distance logistics while strengthening South Africa’s energy resilience. Working with Zimi’s logistics partners, we can ensure that our infrastructure is supported by consistent commercial demand from fleet operators, alongside the growing passenger EV market. This strengthens the long-term viability of the charging network while helping accelerate the shift to cleaner transport along one of the country’s most important trade corridors,” he adds.
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BAIC South Africa used the Festival of Motoring 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit to highlight both its established range and new energy vehicle ambitions. The event marked the first public appearance of ARCFOX in South Africa, alongside the unveiling of BAIC’s X55 Plug‑in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
When Volvo introduced the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric to South Africa in late 2021, the timing raised eyebrows. The country was enduring a severe power crisis, with loadshedding recorded on 200 days that year.
Three months after launching its off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging network on the N3 corridor, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has confirmed plans to double charging capacity at both Charge hubs.
