Written by Mabuyane Mabuza
These days one can’t talk to a senior motor industry manager or executive without hearing these two words: electric vehicles.
So important is the topic that the SA motor industry is even factoring load shedding as part of the conversation. We have seen the EV conversation grow in leaps and bounds in recent years, the writing on the wall is as clear as daylight that we are headed in that direction whether we (consumers) like it or not. The luxury brands have upped the ante and it just looks like it’s only a matter of time before we are all sold on EVs. I hear you say “hold on, but how will we charge these cars?” Worry not, according to Mikel Mabasa, chairman of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), the South African motor industry has a clear plan, and that plan is in full swing.
Mabasa has outlined the plans his sector has embarked on to make power available to EV drivers which includes engaging banks on finance options to put up home charging points. Another plan is to install enough charging points along the country’s major routes and cities. That, he says, will be achieved through partnerships with independent renewable energy producers.
Honestly, the new generation EVs have evolved so much that getting customers to make the switch won’t be a difficult task, that’s just my opinion. Take, for instance, the BMW iX, a high-performance electric vehicle, something that would have been difficult to imagine ten years ago. The iX is one of many from BMW including the iX3, the i4, and the newly launched i7 to name but a few. I couldn’t get enough of that vooma that came out of the iX’s fully electric engine during our week of bonding.
The question is would you buy one such vehicle as an everyday car? Granted the range is not sufficient for the South African lifestyle, but we drive a fair amount of distances. I have yet to see an EV that can give you 1000km of battery charge even though I believe this might happen sooner than we think.
Volkswagen’s E Golf is also one of the newer additions in the stable. I had the privilege of living with it for a week, it is easy to deal with, has healthy battery life and it is fast. You might fight one or two annoying things such as power not kicking in quick enough especially when you engage reverse.
EV prices don’t come cheap but that’s always the case with all new technologies. They will come down as the technology becomes more widespread.
The BMW iX is priced at R1,7 million, you are looking at the range of 630 km.
Here is a list of some of the full electric vehicles available in SA for your indulgence:
- Nissan Leaf (remember it?),
- Audi e-Tron,
- Jaguar I-Pace,
- Mini Cooper SE adding to the list is Mercedes-Benz EQ range to name but a few.
This list is growing by the week.
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