N4 Pretoria to Mbombela: EV charging stops
Fast DC chargers within about 5 km of the N4, in driving order from Pretoria, with the gaps between them. Distances are approximate road kilometres.
Fast DC stops in driving order
| km from Pretoria | Near | Charger | Speed | Plugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 237 | Machadodorp | Caltex N4 Machadodorp | 75 kW | CCS2 |
| 329 | Mbombela | I'Langa Mall (Nelspruit) | 80 kW | CCS2, Type 2 |
| 330 | Mbombela (4.2 km off the route) | Riverside Mall | 150 kW | CCS2, Type 2 |
Gaps between fast chargers
Counting from Pretoria to Mbombela. Highlighted: the longest gap and any over 200 km. Gaps under 15 km are hidden.
| From | To | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Pretoria (km 0) | Machadodorp (km 237) | 237 km · longest · over 200 km |
| Machadodorp (km 237) | Mbombela (km 329) | 92 km |
11 slower chargers on this route (DC under 50 kW and AC)
| km | Near | Charger | Type | Speed | Plugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Pretoria | DTI 1 | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 0 | Pretoria | Pretoria Central Police Station | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 1 | Pretoria | Brooklyn Mall Right (Brooklyn) | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 2 | Pretoria | Hillcrest Boulevard Mall | DC (under 50 kW) | 30 kW | CCS2 |
| 4 | Pretoria | The Club Retail | DC (under 50 kW) | 25 kW | CCS2 |
| 6 | Pretoria | Menlyn Park P3 | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 6 | Pretoria | Menlyn Park VIP | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 6 | Pretoria | City Lodge Lynnwood | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 7 | Pretoria | Menlyn Park P1 | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 12 | Pretoria East | Woodhill Golf Estate | AC | 22 kW | – |
| 12 | Pretoria East | Olympus Gardens | DC (under 50 kW) | 30 kW | CCS2 |
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 · N3 Johannesburg to Durban · N2 Cape Town to Gqeberha (Garden Route).
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.