POWEROAD BESS Powering South Africa’s first off-grid EV charging network

Solar + Storage + Diesel Genset +EV Charging Solution

Project Information

Solution: 645 kW / 1290 kWh, 20-ft Containerized Solution
Location: South Africa
Scenario: EV Charging Network
Application: 
• PVSelf-consumption
• EV Charging Support
Profit Model:
• Self-sufficiency
• Demand Charge Reduction

Background

South Africa’s first off-grid EV charging network has launched along the N3 corridor — one of the country’s most important freight and transport routes. Connecting Johannesburg and Durban, the N3 links South Africa’s economic heartland with the Port of Durban, making it a critical route for freight and long-distance travel.

As electric mobility expands from passenger vehicles to commercial fleets, reliable high-power charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly important along such a heavily travelled route.

A renewable energy company is addressing this need with two dedicated EV charging hubs (the Tugela station and the Roadside station) supported by POWEROAD’s energy storage solutions. Ultra-fast charging, a farm stall, good coffee, clean restrooms and somewhere to take a proper break while your vehicle charges.

Challenge

South Africa’s electricity grid is the core obstacle. An aging, coal-dominated energy system has left the country plagued by frequent load shedding — power cuts that strike without warning.

Charging hubs cannot rely on the utility grid as a stable power source, yet they must continuously support high-power, highly variable EV charging loads.

The solution was therefore to establish an independently operated microgrid that coordinates renewable generation, battery storage, charging demand and backup power in real time.

Solution

• All-In-One Containerized ESS: POWEROAD supplied one air-cooled containerized ESS for each of the two N3 charging stations. Each system is rated at 5kW/645kWh, providing a combined capacity of approximately 645 kW/1290 kWh.
• Grid-Independent Power Supply: The PCS supports both grid-connected and islanded operation, enabling each station to maintain a reliable power supply independently of the utility grid.
• Reliable 24/7 Charging: Each station can simultaneously charge up to eight EVs through six DC charging points and two AC charging points, accommodating the high and variable power demands of passenger and commercial vehicles.
• Intelligent BESS-Prime Energy Management: TheEMS control system coordinates the BESS, diesel generator and EV charging equipment while centrally monitoring energy flows, battery status, generator operation and charger performance. It prioritizes PV utilization and minimizes generator runtime to improve overall system efficiency.

Project Value

On 20 May 2026, a Volvo ES90 reached a peak charging power of 321.28 kW at the N3 Tugela station, charging from 9% to 80% in around 21 minutes.

On the same day, the Tugela station delivered approximately 999 kWh to 17 EVs, while the Roadside station supplied around 1,476 kWh to 25 EVs on the previous day. Neither station used its backup diesel generator, demonstrating that the solar-plus-storage system could meet actual charging demand independently.

“Following strong demand since the N3 launch, the two hubs are planned to double their charging capacity from 360 kW to up to 720 kW per hub, with battery storage also set to increase from 645 kWh to 1.4 MWh per site.”

The expansion plan highlights an important principle for off-grid fast-charging projects: The system should not be sized only for current EV demand. From the outset, the BESS, PV array, charging capacity and control system should all be designed for future expansion as more electric trucks and high-voltage EVs enter the market.

This project goes beyond a conventional C&I peak-shaving application by validating its air-cooled containerized ESS in a fully off-grid microgrid with highly dynamic EV fast-charging loads and multi-brand integration, forming a complete Solar + BESS + Genset + EV Charging system.