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For years, the global logistics sector has treated long-distance electric trucking as a distant reality, especially in emerging markets grappling with power stability. Today, that narrative officially changes.
Zimi has signed a landmark three-year agreement with Charge Holdings (the visionaries behind Zero Carbon Charge and Zero Carbon Logistics) to formally electrify heavy commercial freight traffic along South Africa’s primary economic artery: the N3 highway connecting Johannesburg and Durban.
This strategic collaboration establishes a powerful, real-world framework for commercial electric vehicles (EVs) by pairing Zimi’s end-to-end commercial fleet leasing and software ecosystem with Charge Holdings' massive rollout of dedicated, off-grid national charging networks.
Relying on traditional municipal grids to power heavy-duty electric trucks along national highways is an operational risk that commercial operators simply cannot take. This partnership solves that bottleneck at the root.
Beginning May 2026, Charge Holdings is launching two cutting-edge, completely off-grid, solar-powered EV charging stations directly positioned on the N3 freight corridor:
Charge N3 Tugela (KwaZulu-Natal)
Charge N3 Roadside (Free State)
Under this historic agreement, Zimi-operated commercial fleets are secured a guaranteed, reserved charging capacity of up to 500 kWh per station daily. This ensures that Zimi’s logistics partners will never suffer fleet transit delays, missed delivery windows, or queue bottlenecks.
Built to handle the immense energy requirements of commercial delivery vehicles and logistics trucks, the technical specifications of these new corridors set a new standard for South African logistics:
Ultra-Fast Power Delivery: Each solar-powered site supports peak charging outputs of more than 300 kW.
High-Amperage Throughput: Outfitted with six liquid-cooled fast-charging connectors capable of delivering up to 600 A directly into heavy commercial battery architectures.
Complete Tariff Insulation: By generating 100% of the propulsion energy directly on-site via solar photovoltaics and battery storage, the model completely insulates corporate fleet operators from volatile municipal electricity price hikes and diesel fuel spikes.
"Reliable, always-on charging infrastructure is essential for fleet electrification," explains Zimi CEO, Michael Maas. "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 maximum operational uptime."
Charge Holdings Director and Co-Founder, Andries Malherbe, adds: “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 and capturing consistent commercial fleet demand.”
For our corporate clients, financial officers, and fleet risk managers, this partnership delivers the ultimate proof of concept. The infrastructure is live, the charging capacity is reserved, and the financial predictability is locked in. The future of South African freight is no longer petrol-driven, it is powered by Zimi.
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