Are you a fan of electric cars? There are many benefits to electric cars from a performance and environmental perspective. Electric cars have instant maximum torque when pulling off, which generally makes them fast off the line. People who live in cities would especially appreciate not having to breathe in car exhaust fumes, which would be the case if everyone drove electric cars. Today’s electric vehicles resemble popular vehicle types such as sports cars, SUVs, hatches and MPVs.
Which electric cars are on sale in South Africa in 2020?1,2
As of October 2019, there are just over 1,000 electric cars on SA’s roads, which is a low number when you consider that there are approximately 12 541 566 registered vehicles in South Africa overall. This is understandable because electric cars are expensive when compared to petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.
Are you in the market for an electric car? The Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 have been around for some time now. There are a few new entries into the electric car mass market which are, or will be available in South Africa in 2020. Here are several electric-powered cars to look forward to in 2020.
Audi e-tron
Audi will launch its first mass-produced electric car this year in the form of an SUV in South Africa. The price is estimated to be over R1.6 million. However, it will come with significant performance characteristics thanks to its all-electric 300kW and 664Nm that it comes with as standard.
BMW i3
BMW’s i3 is a popular electric car. It has a range of up to 260km on a single charge.
Jaguar I-Pace
This Jaguar model may be a newcomer, but it is already making waves. The I-Pace has a range of 470km on one charge. It is fast off the line too. The Jaguar I-Pace will pounce from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
The EQC is the all-electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz, which has a 450km range on a single charge. The EQC can charge its battery in 40 minutes at selected rapid charging stations.
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is one of the pioneers when it comes to electric cars. The Leaf is also one of the most affordable electric vehicles on the market, starting from R479 100. This electric-powered car has a range of 175km.
South Africa is more prepared than ever for electric cars4,5
People may wonder if load-shedding will be an issue when it comes to charging electric cars regularly on a reliable basis in SA. Regardless, electric cars’ popularity and their supporting infrastructure are growing. For example, you can charge your electric vehicle at some major shopping malls while you do your shopping.
Where are electric car charging stations available now? Overall, according to PlugShare, there are 137 charging stations across essential parts of the road network in South Africa. Jaguar, together with GridCars, has established 54 electric charging stations in SA which can be used by non-Jaguar yet compliant electric cars as well. Their charging stations are situated along major highways and shopping malls and other convenient locations within major cities. Nissan and BMW have a growing number of charging stations throughout the country too.
Perhaps consider the pros and cons before you decide to buy an electric car or not.
Affordable and innovative car insurance
You may be interested in innovative motoring, but have you also considered innovative car insurance? Perhaps consider getting affordable and innovative car insurance with Prime South Africa.
Sources:
-
- Dailymaverick.co.za: How geared up is South Africa for electric vehicles?
- Wheels24.co.za: 5 electric cars to look out for in 2020
- Arrivealive.co.za: Statement By Minister Nzimande on the Release of the Preliminary Easter 2019 Road Safety Report
- Itweb.co.za: Electric vehicle charging station map goes live
- Businesstech.co.za: This map shows where you can find electric car charging stations across South Africa
