Tim Abbott and Fundi Sithebe
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and BMW South Africa have launched BMW ChargeNow electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and King Shaka International Airport (KSIA).
ORTIA and CTIA each have two ChargeNow stations that accommodate up to four cars at a time, while KSIA has one ChargeNow station able to charge two cars at a time.
The type 2, AC charging stations can be found at parkade 2 south, level 2 at ORTIA (follow the premium parking directional signs); on the ground floor of parkade 1 at CTIA, and on level zero of the multistorey parkade at KSIA.
ACSA will cover all electricity costs associated with the charging stations for 12 months from date of launch.
Additionally, BMW EV drivers will enjoy free parking (for a maximum of four days at a time) at the three airports during November.
This is to allow other EV users the opportunity to park and fly as well.
“We are delighted to launch the first EV charging stations at African airports,” says ACSA acting CEO Fundi Sithebe.
“These charging bays will reduce the number one concern most EV drivers have, which is range anxiety. From today, BMW EV users may drive to and from our three airports with comfort because while they travel, we will be charging their vehicles.
“These new ChargeNow stations in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are physical manifestations of the seismic change our industry is going through,” adds BMW Group South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa CEO Tim Abbott.
“This [project] spent two years in the making. I’d like to thank ACSA for its vision, as integrated transport is at the heart of convenience. As the move to EVs gathers pace, I imagine we’ll see more of these partnerships.
“We’ve been rolling out charging infrastructure across the country since we launched the BMW i3 and BMW i8 in 2015, and these charging points take our tally of BMW ChargeNow charging points to more than 60.”
The German vehicle manufacturer will offer 25 electrified vehicles – a term which includes hybrids – to the world market by 2023, with more than half of this number full electric vehicles.
By the end of this year, BMW will have 500 000 electrified vehicles on the road globally. This is set to increase to one-million vehicles by 2021.