Zimi Charge is a pioneering South African startup making significant breakthroughs in electric vehicle (EV) charging and smart energy management. More than just a charger provider, Zimi Charge is building a comprehensive integrated platform that combines flexible hardware (both AC and DC) with an advanced operational management software, enabling businesses to optimize costs, enhance efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions in real time.
Founded in 2021 by a team with backgrounds in technology and clean energy, Zimi Charge emerged from real and pressing needs in Africa, where the power grid is often unstable, investment costs are high, and the transition to electric mobility is just beginning to grow. Rather than following traditional approaches, Zimi Charge has chosen to tackle the issue from its roots: building a data-driven, optimized operational model that enables fleet owners, logistics providers, and businesses to deploy charging stations without spending millions of dollars on conventional infrastructure.
According to operational reports, Zimi Charge‘s solution helps reduce infrastructure investment costs by up to 50%, cuts electricity bills by 64%, and boosts charging equipment utilization by eight times the industry average. More importantly, Zimi‘s software platform allows real-time performance tracking, optimizes charging schedules based on electricity pricing charts, and even supports calculations of CO₂ emissions reductions.
From a technological standpoint, Zimi Charge is progressively integrating smart modules such as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), allowing electric vehicles not only to charge but also to feed energy back into the grid during peak hours, contributing to grid stability in industrial zones and urban areas. This feature is particularly critical in South Africa, where localized blackouts are frequent.
In terms of its business model, Zimi Charge does not sell chargers individually. Instead, it offers a platform-as-a-service model, or Charging-as-a-Service, tailored for fleet operators, logistics companies, commercial real estate developers, or smart city projects. The Zimi team also collaborates with local governments and infrastructure providers to deploy semi-public charging networks— a strategic move to accelerate EV adoption in areas with limited existing utilities.
Initial success in South Africa has enabled Zimi to expand quickly to international markets. As of mid-2025, the startup has launched pilot programs in the United Kingdom and established partnerships with logistics companies seeking to decarbonize their supply chains. Looking ahead, Zimi aims to reduce at least 36,000 tons of CO₂ annually by 2030 through its smart and optimized charging network.
At the P4G Vietnam Summit 2025, Zimi Charge had the opportunity to present its solution to regional investors and international organizations, garnering strong interest from entities seeking sustainable charging models for emerging markets. This marked the startup’s first engagement with partners in Southeast Asia, a region expected to become the next major EV market after China and India.
Zimi Charge is not only a case study in energy tech innovation but also a testament to how developing nations can take the lead by solving problems rooted in local realities. By integrating technology, data, and a platform-based business model, Zimi is helping to build a more flexible, efficient, and sustainable electric mobility ecosystem for the future.
