We tried out Mzansi's fastest EV charger and it impressed

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been gaining popularity locally in recent years due to their sustainability and energy efficiency. However, one of the main concerns with EVs has been the time it takes to recharge them (I’ve seen your tweets). This is where the 200 kW electric vehicle charger comes in, offering a much faster charging solution.

In this article, we’ll explore what it’s like to use Mzansi’s first and only 200 KW EV charger found at the Mall of Africa for the first time. In case you missed it, Audi Southern Africa installed the charger.

First of all, it’s important to note that not all EVs are compatible with a 200 kW charger. This type of charger is typically only compatible with high-end models, such as Tesla’s Model S and Model X. Seeing that we don’t have those models locally, the charger is only compatible with the likes of the Audi e-tron GT, BMW ix, BMW i4 M50, Porsche Taycan and this Mercedes-Benz EQS we used for this test. So, if you own a different type of EV, you may need to find a different charging solution with a much lower output.

Assuming you do have a compatible EV, finding and using this 200 kW charger at MOA for the first time can be a bit intimidating. These chargers are significantly more powerful than most charging stations, so it’s important to be cautious and follow the instructions carefully.

The first thing you’ll need to do is to find the charging station. We drove quite a bit around Mall of Africa trying to locate this charger. The thing is, on the respective portals either from Gridcars and Rubicon, there are no clear instructions on which entry or parking level the charger can be found which is rather frustrating. After calling the Rubicon help desk, and another call back from them, we found the charger at Level 2D parking, which leads you straight to the Woolworths entrance. The charger is located on the far left upon entry. The charger itself is huge, and you can’t miss it. It is clad in black classic Audi branding. All of this, and the placement is rather distracting and odd in a dark corner. But we bet the placement makes sense from an engineering perspective. Once you’ve found the station, you’ll need to park your car in the designated charging spot and connect the charger to your vehicle, tap your recharge card and you’re good to go.

One of the benefits of a 200 kW charger is that it can provide a full charge in as little as 30 minutes, depending on your EV’s battery capacity. This means you’ll have plenty of time to grab a cup of coffee or stretch your legs while your car charges. Fortunately, I quickly had to dash to the Game where I needed to stock up on loadshedding essentials.

While waiting for your car to charge, you may notice that the charger makes a bit of noise. This is completely normal and is just the sound of the charger’s cooling fans working to keep the system cool. The charger also has a display that shows the charging progress, so you can keep an eye on how much longer your car needs to charge.

After about 34 minutes, my Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ was charged from 99km to 580 km. Which is impressive and rather satisfying given my experience with EVs in Mzansi. Once your car is fully charged, the charger will automatically stop supplying power to your vehicle. You can then unplug your car and be on your way.

Overall, using a 200 kW electric vehicle charger for the first time can be a bit daunting, but it’s a relatively straightforward process. With the ability to charge your car in just 30 minutes, a 200 kW charger is a game changer for those who want to minimize the amount of time spent charging their EVs.

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#Audi #Audi South Africa #Gridcars #Mercedes-Benz EQS #Mercedes-Benz South Africa

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Papi Mabele

Papi Mabele has a marketing background, he is a digital marketing expert with extensive experience in launching and building global brands in the emerging markets. Papi is also an avid tech writer, enthusiast and all round tech junkie. As a freelance writer and analyst he has been numerously published in Popular Mechanics (SA), GQ South Africa, Premier Magazine, Driven Magazine, Bloem News, Courant, The Weekly, Enthooze Magazine and PiE magazine amongst others.