Electric vs petrol energy costs under Eskom's proposed tariff changes

Jan

Who's the Boss?
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Electric versus petrol cars — Eskom's proposed power tariffs will make you want to switch

South African motorists would shave hundreds or thousands of rands per month from car running costs if they could switch to an electric vehicle (EV) under Eskom's proposed new power tariff plan.

That is according to an analysis of the costs to charge various EVs with the new tariffs compared to filling up the most fuel-efficient petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars in South Africa.
 

wingnut771

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The problem is there is no such thing as "off peak" anymore:

1664212056371.png

Loadshedding 24/7

Imagine all the transformers blowing up when the power comes back after a blackout and the EV's try and charge. Power comes on, 2 minutes later it goes off again.
 

Swa

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If you still have some charge to spare when you arrive home from work, you can feed power back into the grid during peak hours for a net-billing gain.
This is a bad idea. You don't deplete your batteries on the grid. Not only would you need to use that energy again from the grid leaving you with zero gain you'd have a depleted battery. The only thing you'd gain is unnecessary wear and tear. You only ever feed back into the grid from solar and spare your batteries for your own use.
 

The Trutherizer

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Excluding the cost of buying an electric vehicle, which are generally substantially more than their petrol and diesel counterparts.
At least I have hope the ridiculous import costs will be reduced on EVs some time in the next 2-3 years.
The prices in SA are not right at present. As if they want to dissuade people from getting EVs here. Not at all in line with what they cost elsewhere.
$35k EVs tend to go for well over a R1mil here. While on the exchange that should not be more than R700k. From what I've seen the price is about double here.
 

Willie Trombone

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At least I have hope the ridiculous import costs will be reduced on EVs some time in the next 2-3 years.
The prices in SA are not right at present. As if they want to dissuade people from getting EVs here. Not at all in line with what they cost elsewhere.
$35k EVs tend to go for well over a R1mil here. While on the exchange that should not be more than R700k. From what I've seen the price is about double here.
Same with all imported cars
 

ChrisMOlives

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So this is proposed by the crowd who can't manage electricity supply and usage today, 26/9/2022 at 21:58 in Gauteng North, in a privileged area where I pay for every kWh I consume, but can't afford to buy a new petrol/diesel thing. My domestic says they're burning busses in Ga'Rankuwa because they want free transport to work every day. But she and her neighbour's have free electricity on most days.
On all levels, the electric vehicle shite is never going to work in sunny South Africa - except for the political elite who tank up free somewhere.
But an interesting article all the same.
 

The Trutherizer

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Same with all imported cars
One can hope maybe they start being manufactured here then. Or our local industry will hardly have an export market by the end of the decade.
We'll still pay slightly more though. South Africans are the first line of protectionism for the local industry. Though at least not double.
 

Gravedigger

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Would be nice if the other manufacturers can bring in entry-level and mid-tier electric vehicles to South Africa.

For example, the Hyundai Ioniq Electric seems like a good mid-tier vehicle...

You must have a dik wallet and a fat salary to be able to afford a electric vehicle, with a off-grid solar system to keep your vehicle(s) charged.

Most of us cannot even afford to buy a new car, (with the current higher living costs) let alone a EV to travel, and work with.

People will be slow with the EV adoption, with the current state of affairs, I'd say, more than 5 years, more like 7, if not 10. (Reason being, affordability, demand and supply, as well as second-hand markets, etc)
 

WollieVerstege

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Depends on the manufacturer however by the time ZA has any meaningful uptake of EVs they’ll probably last the lifetime of the vehicle. Cost currently is around $150-200 per kWh multiplied by the battery size and it’s on a downward trend.
Plus, there is a increase in the repurposing and recycling of EV batteries. In some countries you can already sell your old battery and off set the cost against the new battery, further reducing the cost.
Also recently saw a some company offer a battery replacement savings product.
 

mypetcow

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You can use the old battery packs of crashed cars or where one module has gone bad to build your own DIY battery with the remaining modules for your house. So it’s not all bad.

People have been doing it.

 

BBSA

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What about the cost of a solar charging station, or are you going to use a diesel generator?
 

wingnut771

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You can use the old battery packs of crashed cars or where one module has gone bad to build your own DIY battery with the remaining modules for your house. So it’s not all bad.

People have been doing it.

You just don't have a car anymore.
 
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Excluding the cost of buying an electric vehicle, which are generally substantially more than their petrol and diesel counterparts.
Recently an article pointed out that most South Africans cannot even afford a Suzuki Espresso which is the cheapest vehicle currently. The majority of places of living don't have electrical points in their parking lots. Although the charging costs might be lower for an EV, you must use a "lot" more to actually "save". So Eksdom do lure its customers to use more and save, while tariffs is sky-high. With loadshitting very active in "off-peak" periods, how are you going to save at the end of the day? At the end you must fork out more for so-called "savings". In the UK the charging infrastructure is still inadequate. Here in SA basically nonexistent!
 
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