HARRISMITH – Eskom has officially driven into the Free State’s electric vehicle future, launching its first EV fast-charging station in the province.
The state-of-the-art facility was unveiled at the Bergview Complex in Harrismith on 28 October, strategically placed on the busy N3 corridor in Maluti-a-Phofung.
It is the first of its kind for Eskom in the Free State, boasting two DC super-fast chargers and one AC charger – allowing motorists to power up while they grab a coffee.
Eskom’s Acting Senior Manager for Retail in the Free State, Eugene Myburgh, said this is a clear signal that the power utility is no longer just generating electricity, it is now powering mobility.
“The whole idea is just to show our customers that Eskom is also moving into the EV market,” Myburgh said.
“Eskom already has electric vehicles in our own fleet. This is the future, and we are ready for it.”
Engineering Design Manager Emmanuel Momalanyane said all three ports were tested and live at launch.
“We’ve got two DC ports, which are fast-charging ports, and an AC port,” Momalanyane confirmed.
During the launch, Eskom demonstrated the station’s muscle – a truck was charging on DC fast-charge while an electric van was plugged into the AC port.
The move places Harrismith, the gateway between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, at the centre of South Africa’s green transport revolution, and marks Eskom’s bold pivot from load-shedding to leading the EV charge.
