Most EVs sold in South Africa have sufficient range for regular in-city driving

mylesillidge

Journalist
Joined
Jul 29, 2021
Messages
1,585
Reaction score
1,495
Big myth about electric car range in South Africa

South African consumers are overly concerned that the range of electric vehicles (EVs) is too short for their regular daily driving or even long-distance travel on several of the country's most popular routes.

Sceptics often scorn the sub-500km ranges of many EVs because they are lower than some petrol and diesel cars, some of which can achieve around 1,000km on a single tank of fuel.
 
We know this.

Its the "you must by EV's or you're ruining the environment" narrative we need dropped.

Along with guaranteed future values.
 

Most EVs sold in South Africa have sufficient range for regular in-city driving​

Well Fsuk me - we would expect that as a minimum otherwise it's as useful a chocolate teapot !!
 
Big myth about electric car range in South Africa

South African consumers are overly concerned that the range of electric vehicles (EVs) is too short for their regular daily driving or even long-distance travel on several of the country's most popular routes.

Sceptics often scorn the sub-500km ranges of many EVs because they are lower than some petrol and diesel cars, some of which can achieve around 1,000km on a single tank of fuel.
Here I will solve your problem for u.

The cheapest EV in South Africa is the BYD Dolphin Std at R 540 000 - that's the issue. I just bought a Chery Tiggo 4 Elite SE - slightly bigger car, more features, for R 408 000 new and I actually got it for R 385 000 all in.

If the BYD Dolphin at its spec level and size was R 300 000 they would fly off the floor. Its the price that's the issue. Plus not knowing if the high speed charge will work. Missus and I have discussed that our kids second car will almost certainly be electric (first on will be manual so he learns), but 2nd one, almost certainly electric, but hopefully by then the price will be in middle class range not F@$#$@# that's expensive for a small sedan range.
 
I have a 21 year old city golf that does around 600km on a tank. I would like to replace it with an EV, but have so many questions.

If my home solar battery is designed to last 15 years before needing replacement what do I do in 15 years when my EV battery no longer holds a charge and I get 50km instead of 450km?
Can the battery be replaced or is it like a 8 year old iPhone that just ends up as waste?
Do I park it at Makro's eWaste and go buy a new car?
What happens to the old batteries? Can the old batteries be recycled or do they end up in a landfill?
What will it cost to replace the batteries (if possible).
Software probably won't be supported in 15 years, again rendering some of these cars useless - a problem with many modern cars I suppose.
 
I have a 21 year old city golf that does around 600km on a tank. I would like to replace it with an EV, but have so many questions.

If my home solar battery is designed to last 15 years before needing replacement what do I do in 15 years when my EV battery no longer holds a charge and I get 50km instead of 450km?
Can the battery be replaced or is it like a 8 year old iPhone that just ends up as waste?
Do I park it at Makro's eWaste and go buy a new car?
What happens to the old batteries? Can the old batteries be recycled or do they end up in a landfill?
What will it cost to replace the batteries (if possible).
Software probably won't be supported in 15 years, again rendering some of these cars useless - a problem with many modern cars I suppose.
A lot of our lithium batteries in our solar systems are recycled car batteries.
 
If oil comes from dead plants, that photosynthesised long ago, then petrol is just solar power once removed. o_O
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter