M&Z leads charging station network
Solar-fed charging stations promise to change the game
The partnership aims to roll out charging stations nation-wide over the coming years.
Electric vehicles are set to take over the world and in Namibia, M&Z has taken the lead in establishing the infrastructure that will accommodate all enthusiasts who cannot wait to drive across the country in your electric-powered automobiles. In partnership with Quantum Solar Investments, M&Z Mercedes-Benz Namibia introduced the first of their solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the capital. Speaking at the launch event late last month, the managing director of the M&Z group Ekko Eisenberg used the analogy of the chicken and the egg to illustrate the importance of this intervention. “We know that there are virtually no EVs in Namibia at the moment since there are no charging stations. This means that you would have to charge at home and move only within the area, or you would have to put the charger in the back of the car before travelling. Then you would have to charge the car which will probably take the night because they are not the better chargers,” he said. “We decided then that as a company we want to spearhead the charging network in Namibia.” What makes the 50kWh charging stations developed in partnership with Quantum so ground-breaking is that they are powered via solar panels mounted on the roof of the parking bays provided at each station. Further, the stations are also connected to the power supply for the establishment where they are located, allowing for excess power to be used by those establishments, and for extra power for the station when needed, for example at night or on overcast days. “We will never have the situation where we don’t have the electricity to charge the car. It has an intelligent network,” he elaborated.Passionate
Mark van Schalkwyk of Quantum Solar said that they are passionate about renewable energy. “M&Z has partnered with us and we are truly grateful for the experience and for them allowing us to present our design,” he said. The solar panels on top of the parking bays feed power into supercapacitor cells, which are converted into electricity to charge electric vehicles, he explained. The roll-out planned will be nationwide, making it possible to drive anywhere you would with any other vehicle, with about 25 stations planned over the next few years. Throughout the rest of this year, the partnership will put up another five charging stations, Eisenberg said. Usakos and Otjiwarongo are already being investigated. Namibia has the second-best solar irradiation in the world, according to Van Schalkwyk, who is excited about the future of renewable power in the country. Another enthusiast who was particularly excited about the rollout is Sybrand de Waal. He pointed out that the M&Z charging stations work for all EVs, not just Mercedes-Benz. He said that the uptake of EVs in the country is not happening fast enough, based on published government objectives. “It saves me money, it saves me time because I don’t have to stop at the service station, and it’s better for the environment,” he said, calling it a win-win-win investment. He is also a fan of the effortless acceleration that EVs offer. “Even though electric vehicles are a new thing, try it. You won’t know until you have a test drive. Perhaps you will be surprised at what you find."