Subaru & Easee Trial the World's Most Remote EV Charge Point
The remote island of St Helena, nestled 1,200 miles off the southwest coast of Africa, has become the site of a groundbreaking trial: the world's most remote public EV charging point. The ambitious initiative is part of the island's plan to transition almost entirely to sustainable energy and zero-emission transportation by 2030.
A collaborative effort for sustainability
Global car manufacturer Subaru and Norwegian EV charger brand Easee partnered with the St Helena Government to test the feasibility and adaptability of EV technology in one of the world's most isolated locations.
For two months, an Easee Charge unit was installed outside the Museum in Jamestown, the island's capital and connected to the local power grid by Connect St Helena Ltd. The charging station powered Subaru's all-electric Solterra, which underwent rigorous testing on the island's rugged terrain.
From Subaru's perspective, it's an honour to be involved in a project that could lead to a fully sustainable future for Saint Helena. If you can operate an electric vehicle in this environment, you can anywhere."
Testing EV performance on challenging terrain
The Subaru Solterra arrived on the island aboard a monthly supply ship, drawing significant attention from locals. Known for their durability, Subarus are already popular on the island and this marked the arrival of its first all-electric model.
The Solterra easily tackled St Helena's sealed and dirt roads, tight lanes and volcanic landscapes. A full day of driving, covering roughly 50 miles on the 10x5-mile island, consumed less than 20% of the battery.
The vehicle's regenerative braking system proved invaluable, recharging the battery during downhill sections.
Renewable energy integration
Currently, St Helena generates 25% of its electricity from wind and solar energy, with the remainder powered by a diesel station that consumes US$6.2m of imported fuel annually.
The government aims to generate 80% of the island's power through renewable sources by 2028, aligning with its commitment to sustainability.
Mark Brooks, St Helena's Minister for Treasury and Economic Development, expressed enthusiasm for the project:
"We're excited to partner in this project to bring in an electric car and an electric charger and install them as public charging stations in the remotest place in the world."
A showcase for Easee's technology
The trial served as a demonstration of Easee's charging technology.
Adam Rodgers, Managing Director of Easee UK, emphasised the reliability of their chargers:
"We don't believe location should hinder the EV transition. Our charger's robustness, durability and efficacy really is a powerful accolade… we know we can place it somewhere as remote as St Helena and it's going to work."
The St Helena Government incentivises residents to import low-emission vehicles to encourage the transition. Minister Brooks outlined the next steps:
"The next step is to roll out the infrastructure so that we are using electric vehicles more and more on the island. There are a lot of diesel and petrol vehicles currently and we want to change that behaviour."
By aligning renewable energy advancements with EV adoption, St Helena could become one of the world's first territories to achieve a zero-emission automotive footprint—a model for sustainability in even the most remote locations.
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