N3 Johannesburg to Durban: EV charging stops
Fast DC chargers within about 5 km of the N3, in driving order from Johannesburg, with the gaps between them. Distances are approximate road kilometres.
Fast DC stops in driving order
| km from Johannesburg | Near | Charger | Speed | Plugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Johannesburg (2.7 km off the route) | Sub Sahara Power Distributors | 90 kW | CCS2 |
| 8 | Germiston (2.8 km off the route) | Bedford Centre (Bedfortview) | 60 kW | CCS2, Type 2 |
| 188 | Tanda Tau | Sasol Tanda Tau | 100 kW | CCS2 |
| 277 | Harrismith | Engen Bergview 1-Stop | 60 kW | CCS2, Type 2 |
| 333 | Tugela Plaza (Ladysmith) | Engen Tugela 1-Stop North (Ladysmith) | 150 kW | CCS2, Type 2 |
| 333 | Tugela Plaza (Ladysmith) | Engen Tugela 1-Stop South (Ladysmith) | 80 kW | CCS2 |
| 483 | Hilton | The Avenues Centre | 150 kW | CCS2 |
| 493 | Pietermaritzburg | Midlands Mall (Pietermaritzburg) | 60 kW | CCS2, Type 2 |
| 544 | Hillcrest (5 km off the route) | Watercrest Mall (Durban) | 60 kW | CCS2, Type 2 |
Gaps between fast chargers
Counting from Johannesburg to Durban. Highlighted: the longest gap and any over 200 km. Gaps under 15 km are hidden.
| From | To | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Germiston (km 8) | Tanda Tau (km 188) | 180 km · longest |
| Tanda Tau (km 188) | Harrismith (km 277) | 89 km |
| Harrismith (km 277) | Tugela Plaza (Ladysmith) (km 333) | 56 km |
| Tugela Plaza (Ladysmith) (km 333) | Hilton (km 483) | 150 km |
| Pietermaritzburg (km 493) | Hillcrest (km 544) | 51 km |
| Hillcrest (km 544) | Durban (km 570) | 26 km |
6 slower chargers on this route (DC under 50 kW and AC)
| km | Near | Charger | Type | Speed | Plugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Johannesburg | The Country Club Johannesburg - Auckland Park | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 0 | Johannesburg | The Westcliff | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 298 | Van Reenen | Protea Hotel Montrose | AC | 22 kW | Type 2 |
| 434 | Mooi River | Engen 1-Stop (Mooi rivier) | DC (under 50 kW) | 30 kW | CCS2, Type 2 |
| 484 | Hilton | ANEW Hotel Hilton (Pietermaritzburg) | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 499 | Pietermaritzburg | Road Lodge (PMB) | AC | 22 kW | – |
Charger data checked 18 October 2026: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Open Charge Map contributors (CC BY 4.0, public export dated 22 April 2026). Map tiles © OpenStreetMap. Chargers at car dealerships are left out. Credits.
The route line is drawn through the main towns, so it is approximate; a charger counts as "on the route" within about 5 km of it. Other routes: N1 Johannesburg to Cape Town · N2 Cape Town to Gqeberha (Garden Route) · N4 Pretoria to Mbombela.
Road-trip charging tips
CCS2 or Type 2?
CCS2 is the fast DC plug: a Type 2 shape with two big pins underneath. Almost every new EV sold in SA uses it, and DC chargers have the cable attached. Type 2 is the AC plug (usually 7–22 kW) for slower top-ups; bring your own Type 2 cable. CHAdeMO is mostly for older Nissan Leafs.
How long a stop takes
For a typical 60 kWh car charging from 10% to 80%: about 45–60 min on a 50 kW charger and 25–35 min on 100–150 kW, if your car can take that speed. Your car's own maximum DC speed is the limit. Above 80% charging slows right down, so short, frequent stops are quicker. AC at 22 kW takes 3 hours or more.
Load-shedding and outages
Many chargers have no backup power, so they can be off during load-shedding or a local outage. Some sites run on solar and batteries, but don't count on it. Check the outage schedule for the towns you'll stop in and leave yourself a bigger buffer.
Check the app before you leave
This data comes from volunteer maps and may be out of date. Chargers break, get busy or move. Check the operator's app (GridCars, Rubicon, Zero Carbon Charge and others) for live status before you leave, and know your backup stop.
Highway range is lower
At 120 km/h most EVs get 20–30% less than the claimed range, and more in the wind, rain, cold or when towing. Plan to arrive with 10–20% left, not 0%.
Plug-in hybrids
A PHEV's petrol engine covers any gap, so charging is a bonus, not a must. Most PHEVs charge on AC only; a few take DC.