Vrede en Lust Wine Estate outside Franschhoek has installed the first BMW-i charging station at the property, in conjunction with Paarlberg BMW and BMW-South Africa.

Any BMW i3 or i8 owner can charge their vehicle FREE of charge at Vrede en Lust whilst enjoying a wine tasting or a meal at their popular restaurant Lust.

This is the first wine farm with a E-vehicle charging station in the South African Winelands.

The fact that the charging station is powered by “Sustainable Solar Energy” from their solar array, just further emphasizes Vrede en Lust’s commitment to a sustainable environment.

This offer for free charging is open to any E-vechile owner. The aim of the roll out of more charging stations by BMW-i is to encourage the market by-in to the E-vehicle concept.

Last year, Vrede en Lust installed the single biggest solar installation in the wine industry, a massive 220 kVA solar-power generating system, which has not only furthered their aims to become a carbon neutral winery, but is also the first project to be approved under Eskom’s rebate scheme for small-scale renewable energy.

10% of the Vrede en Lust Solar array is on the roof. of the cellar. 90% is in the vineyards.