Subaru Helps Test Remote EV Charging Site

The isolated British Overseas Territory of St. Helena, 1,200 miles off the southwest coast of Africa, was the trial location for one of the world’s most remote public electric vehicle charging points.

The EV charge site is the latest step in a plan for the tropical island, made famous as the final place of exile for Napoleon and home to 192-year-old tortoise Jonathan, to switch almost entirely to sustainable power and zero-emissions transportation by the end of this decade.

Global car manufacturer Subaru and Norwegian electric vehicle charger brand Easee collaborated with the St. Helena government to test the feasibility, reliability and adaptability of electric vehicle use on one of the most remote inhabited islands on the planet.

The trial, lasting two months, featured an Easee Charge unit being installed beside the island’s museum in the capital, Jamestown. It was connected to the St. Helena grid by island power provider Connect St. Helena Ltd., and was used to charge an all-electric Subaru Solterra, which was put through its paces across the rugged St Helena landscape.

With only four electric vehicles currently in use on St. Helena, and none of them the latest generation in EV technology, a 2024 Subaru Solterra was transported on the regular monthly supply ship to the island for the trial by Subaru UK.

St. Helena is home to many Subarus, known for their robustness and reliability, and the arrival of the company’s first all-electric car drew a lot of attention, according to company officials.

The permanent all-wheel drive Solterra was tested on sealed and dirt roads, in Jamestown and on the tight network of lanes that cling to the volcanic isle’s craggy landscape. A whole day of driving, over approximately 50 miles on the 10-by-5-mile island, used no more than 20% of the battery capacity.

The undulating roads meant the battery could be recharged using the vehicle’s regenerative braking  technology on downhill sections.

“From Subaru’s perspective, it’s an honor to be involved in a project that could potentially lead to a fully sustainable future for St. Helena,” said Lorraine Bishton, managing director of Subaru UK. “It’s a real testament to the Subaru’s reliability and capability that we’re not sending a technician with the Solterra. And, to be honest, if you can operate an electric vehicle in this type of environment, then you really can anywhere.”

St Helena has a wind farm and a solar array, providing up to 25% of the island’s power needs. The rest is generated by a diesel power station, using fuel shipped from South Africa each year.

The St. Helena Government plans to have 80% of the island’s power generated by wind and solar by 2028.

“We’re excited to be a partner in this project to bring in an electric car and an electric charger and to install it as a public charging station in the most remote place in the world,” said Mark Brooks, St. Helena minister for treasury and economic development.

The Easee charging point will remain on St. Helena as part of an expanding charging network being installed for a small fleet of electric cars being imported for tourist and islander use in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Solterra proved popular with Saints, with the test team receiving multiple offers from residents to purchase it, according to the company.

“I think this project really resonates with us for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we don’t believe location should be a barrier to the EV transition at all,” said Adam Rodgers, managing director of Easee UK. “And, secondly, the robustness, durability and efficacy of our charger really is a powerful accolade of which we take pride, so that we know we can place it somewhere as remote as St. Helena. I just know that it’s going to work and that means the customer ultimately can rely on good, solid infrastructure that will not break down when they need it most.”